Name: A Song For You
Brand: Verve
SKU: 869870
Availability: OutOfStock

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Kenny Rankin (vocals, guitar); David Spinozza
(acoustic & electric guitars); Russell Malone (guitar); Marilyn Baker,
Carole Mukogawa, James Ross (viola); Jodi Burnett, Larry Corbett, Paula Hochhalter (cello); Steven Tavaglione, Donald Shelton (clarinet); Jack Nimitz (bass clarinet); Jon Clarke (oboe); Harvey Saltzman (bassoon); Chris Potter (tenor saxophone); Roy Hargrove, Rick Baptist, Warren Luening (trumpet); Richard Todd, Brad Warnaar (French horn); Charles Loper, David Waldrop (trombone); Leon Pendarvis (keyboards); John Beasley (synthesizer); Christian McBride (bass); Lewis Nash (drums).
Recorded at Right Track, Avatar, New York, New York; L.A. FX, Los Angeles, California between October & December 2001.
Personnel: Kenny Rankin (vocals, guitar); Russell Malone (guitar); David Spinozza (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Carole Mukogawa, Raymond Tischer, Peter Hatch, James Ross , Marilyn Baker, Harry Shirinian, Denyse Buffum (viola); Paula Hochhalter, Jerome Kessler, David H. Speltz, Jodi Burnett, Anne Karam, Ernest Ehrhardt, Earl Madison, Larry Corbett (cello); Hubert Laws, Steve Kujala (flute); Steve Tavaglione (clarinet); Jack Nimitz (bass clarinet, reeds); Jon Clarke (oboe); Dan Higgins , Fred Selden, Karolyn Kafer (reeds); Chris Potter (tenor saxophone); Rick Baptist, Roy Hargrove, Warren Luening (trumpet); Richard Todd , Brad Warnaar (French horn); Charles Loper (trombone); Leon Pendarvis (keyboards); John Beasley (synthesizer); Lewis Nash (drums).
Audio Mixer: Al Schmitt.
Recording information: Avator Studios, NY (10/02/2001-12/14/2001); Right Track Studios, NY (10/02/2001-12/14/2001).
Photographer: Jeff Dunas.
Arranger: Kenny Rankin.
The great Kenny Rankin makes a subtle shift in stylistic focus on this label debut, titled A Song for You. The recording shows just how rewarding the marriage of songs from the Great American Songbook with the smooth jazz style can be when played by a talent of Rankin's stature. His singing explores new musical trails on such great compositions as Harold Arlen's "When the Sun Comes Out," the Lorenz Hart favorite "She Was Too Good to Me," and "Love Walked In" by George & Ira Gershwin. Rankin also reprises his vocal version of "'Round Midnight," the Thelonious Monk standard previously released on his 2001 CD Haven't We Met?. This vocal version is performed with harmonically viable guitar strumming, with Rankin making it a much easier task than one who may be trying to de-emphasize the difficult piano stylings associated with Monk. Other songs deserving noteworthy mention are the subtle sensuality of "Spanish Harlem" and "I've Just Seen a Face" by Lennon/McCartney. The results of this great variety of musical planning are distinctly even and make for nearly an hour of great smooth jazz fused with excellent material from the songbooks of some of the world's greatest composers. ~ Paula Edelstein

Professional Reviews

JazzTimes (9/02, p.116) - "...Sweet in the high range and resonant in the lower registers, Rankin's voice communicates a closeness that sharpens the focus of these purposeful, carefully crafted arrangements even further."

Album: A Song For You
#	Song Title		Time
1)	When The Sun Comes Out	More Info...	6:10
2)	Where Do You Start	More Info...	3:25
3)	'Round Midnight	More Info...	3:46
4)	She Was Too Good To Me	More Info...	4:11
5)	Spanish Harlem	More Info...	4:27
6)	Then I'll Be Tired Of You	More Info...	5:24
7)	The Way You Look Tonight	More Info...	3:30
8)	I've Just Seen A Face	More Info...	3:17
9)	Love Walked In	More Info...	3:58
10)	A Song For You	More Info...	5:57

Album: A Song For You
#	Song Title		Time
1)	When The Sun Comes Out	More Info...	6:10
2)	Where Do You Start	More Info...	3:25
3)	'Round Midnight	More Info...	3:46
4)	She Was Too Good To Me	More Info...	4:11
5)	Spanish Harlem	More Info...	4:27
6)	Then I'll Be Tired Of You	More Info...	5:24
7)	The Way You Look Tonight	More Info...	3:30
8)	I've Just Seen A Face	More Info...	3:17
9)	Love Walked In	More Info...	3:58
10)	A Song For You	More Info...	5:57