The veteran singer Bob Stewart’s stock in trade is superior ballads delivered with intelligent interpretation, good phrasing and deep feeling. His new compilation CD, Did I Remember? gathers tracks from several of his collections and finds him generally at his best. Stewart’s support troops include pianist Hank Jones, saxophonist Frank Wess, bassist Michael Moore and drummer Mel Lewis. His backing on two tracks is by the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, on others by string ensembles and studio orchestras. Among songs like the title tune, “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” “If I Love Again” and “Prelude to a Kiss, his cover of the Barbra Streisand eighties hit “Someone That I Used to Love” is a ringer. Stewart gives the song his best shot, but it doesn’t hold up to the other material. He compensates with his sensitive treatment of “The More I See You.”
To hear and see Stewart in a combo with Frank Wess on tenor saxophone in obligato and soloing, click here for “Never Let Me Go.”
Coming soon, maybe even tomorrow: the continuation of our random survey of recent recordings.