Kenny Rankin

Kenny Rankin sings like Chet Baker would have if Baker had had a voice. His tone is high (Rankin's speaking voice is actually fairly low) and he has a subtle, cool style. It is a bit of a surprise, but Rankin (whose previous output has been in pop music) is actually a fine jazz singer. He always sticks to the lyrics when performing veteran standards (there is no scatting), but changes many of the notes, even during the melody statements, and he is definitely improvising. Rankin's concept is kind of strange ("At Last" and "The Very Thought of You" are radically changed) but successful and he has a strong and likable voice.

Benny Carter - 4 Albums From The MusicMasters Catalogue - Set 2 (1990-95) {4CD Set Nimbus Records rel 2011}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.42 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 664 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 54 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1990-95, 2011 MusicMasters / Wyastone Estate / Nimbus Records | NI 2741/44
Jazz / Bop / Jazz Blues / Post Bop / Mainstream Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Saxophone

Benny Carter's MusicMasters catalogue turned up some fine sessions in which colleagues included Clark Terry, Hank Jones, and Doc Cheatham, among a raft of musicians - for the stellar singers, see the end of this review. The recordings, made in various locations, span the years 1990-95 and reveal the altoist seemingly unruffled by the reach of Time, still spinning some sublime and harmonically darting lines as if for the first time.