Lannie Garrett Comes Love CD

With a play list featuring, but not limited to, torch songs, Lannie Garrett's third album zeros in on her versatility in delivering a set of 14 tunes cutting across different styles of music. Garrett's home base is Denver, CO, where she was named "Favorite Female Vocalist" six years in a row by the Denver Post. Along the way, she has appeared with such luminaries as Bob Hope and Bill Cosby and opened for her idol Ray Charles. On this album, Garrett is joined by a cluster of very good musicians with the trio of Eric Gunnison, Mike Marlier, and Kenny Walker augmented by other musicians on various tracks. Prominent jazz-pop sax player Nelson Rangell shows up on several as saxophonist, flutist, and whistler! He whistles well, but he is no Elmo Tanner. Rangell's soulful tenor saxophone on "I Didn't Know Enough About You" helps to create a depressing mood that seems to be proper for this not-so-happy tune. Rangell turns whistler on "I Wonder," which Garrett leans on to construct a chilling picture of a dark, rainy street scene as she works through this tune. His tenor returns taking on a funky tone as Garrett goes vamp on the not oft recorded "You Can Be Replaced." Things get a bit brighter on "Comes Love" as Kevin Bollinger's muted trumpet figures beneath Garrett's voice and around Eric Gunnison's piano. Mitch Chmara's electric guitar makes significant contributions on this track. One of the highlights of the album is a vocal duet rendition of "Pickin' Up After You" as Garrett is joined by Tommy Malone from the the Subdudes. Together they fashion a colorful blend of Motown and country, with Kevin Bollinger's trumpet providing the bulk of the instrumental support. Contrast this with the other vocal duet on the set where Garrett and Chris Daniels of the Kings blend for a medium tempo, bouncy straightforward interpretation of Bobby Troup's "You're Lookin' at Me."

This album amply demonstrates that Garrett is comfortable with any number of vocal styles, straight-ahead singing, R&B, country, and the blues. Although her vocal skills are not extraordinary, she certainly puts everything she has into each song she delivers, making her effort very credible as well as entertaining. This album is a set of good performances from a well-rounded entertainer and is recommended. ~ Dave Nathan

Recorded at Coupe Studios, Boulder, Colorado.

Personnel: Lannie Garrett (vocals); Chris Daniels (vocals, acoustic guitar); Tommy Malone (vocals); Kip Kuepper (strings); Nelson Rangell (saxophone, flute, whistle); Kevin Bollinger (trumpet); Eric Gunnison (piano); Mitch Chmara (guitar); Kenny Walker (bass); Mike Marler (drums).