Jazz Articles about Curtis Stigers

Curtis Stigers on What It Means to Be a Gentleman

by Leo Sidran
April 27, 2020

Curtis Stigers: I Think It's Going to Rain Today

by Dan McClenaghan
July 18, 2005

Singing with a relaxed, everyman voice--Randy Newman-esque, with some Dr. John shadings--Curtis Stigers has come up with a dandy set with I Think It's Going To Rain Today. These are well-crafted interpretations of some very well-chosen recent pop songs, rather than the basic American Songbook stuff. Stigers covers blues great Willie Dixon's “My Babe"; Arthur Cradup's “That's All Right," Elvis's first hit on Sun Records; Willie Nelson's classic “Crazy"; Mose Allison's “Everybody's Cryin' Mercy"; Sting's “I Can't Stand Losing You"; ...

Curtis Stigers: I Think It's Going to Rain Today

by Bridget A. Arnwine
July 14, 2005

Some singers have it, but still more don't. On I Think It's Going to Rain Today, Curtis Stigers offers living proof that he clearly has it, crossing genres and performing songs by the likes of Randy Newman, Mose Allison, Willie Nelson, Sting, Tom Waits, and Willie Dixon, in addition to several original compositions. By doing so, the former pop vocalist acknowledges without question that his is more than one music. Stigers brings his own flavor to each of ...

Curtis Stigers: You Inspire Me

by Russell Moon
March 2, 2004

Curtis Stigers, a former rock singer, is probably most famous for having a song on the soundtrack album of The Bodyguard. You Inspire Me is his third album since he got a haircut and joined the Concord label. Upon first listen the record doesn't stand out, but after repeated play it's become a favorite.

Stigers' singing is similar to that of Lyle Lovett, with speaking occassionally interspersed in the stream. His is something of a whiskey voice, and he has ...

Curtis Stigers: Baby Plays Around

by C. Michael Bailey
April 1, 2001

A unique jazz voice from the frontier.

Idaho native and Gene Harris Protégé Curtis Stigers has a voice that is the love child of Harry Connick, Jr. and Betty Carter. His delivery has a rough humor not to be taken too seriously, but serious enough for jazz art. On Baby Plays Around, Stigers basically sings the Chet Baker Songbook in a most un-Chet Baker manner. Everything is here, except “My Funny Valentine." Where Baker sings as a wounded bird, Stigers ...

Curtis Stigers: Baby Plays Around

by AAJ Staff
April 1, 2001

Sometimes it's tough for jazz enthusiasts to cast aside biases about pop music and listen to artists afresh, as if they were hearing a musician or a singer for the first time. And sometimes jazz enthusiasts--and jazz musicians--begrudge success condescendingly, as if the diminution of innate talent is a function of the increase in financial reward.In Curtis Stigers' case, he really does deserve a renewed interest in his jazz singing ability, which had been there all along. Moving ...

Curtis Stigers: Baby Plays Around

by Jim Santella
April 1, 2001

While still a teenager, Curtis Stigers sat in with Gene Harris on Tuesday nights in his hometown of Boise, Idaho. His seamless vocal phrasing and soulful expression seem made for jazz singing. Stigers started his professional career playing tenor sax in local blues bands. No wonder he sounds, at times, like Ray Charles. And yet, Curtis Stigers made his first claim to fame ten years ago, singing soft pop and watching his hits climb the charts.

This mainstream jazz album ...