Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Curtis Stigers: I Think It's Going to Rain Today

182

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

By

Sign in to view read count
Curtis Stigers: I Think It's Going to Rain Today
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"; and Tom Waits' "In Between Love"—all with a distinctive, personal style, flashing surprising new facets of these pop gems.

Upon an initial blind listen, it was pretty obvious that the keyboardist had a big part in this production, from the very first notes of cool B3 slink on Dixon's "My Babe" to a mellifluous breeze behind a good old boy vocal. Turns out Larry Goldings coproduced the recording (with Stigers) and wrote all the arrangements—a key to its success.

Stigers sounds like a tragic romantic on Sting's "I Can't Stand Losing You" (from his Police days). The original never grabbed me, with Sting's vocals droning in a production murk, but this version is poetic and Stigers' vocal style is so different from Sting's, so... American. Add a loose and soaring trumpet solo (John Sneider) at the close, right before the final leap toward suicide threatened in the lyrics.

These arrangements are superb, each one crafted to the individual song. Goldings plays piano, B3, celeste, accordion, and Wurlitzer electric piano. His use of trumpeter John Scheider is spare but always perfectly placed.

A first-rate interpreter, Stigers also pens a fine song. His "Lullaby on the Hudson" (written with Goldings) sounds every bit as much a pop classic as some tunes that Randy Newman or Tom Waits have written at their most romantically poignant. Speaking of whom: the title tune is a Newman classic, sparely arranged with just piano and voice, and the addition of Sneider's horn makes this a more hushed, less quirky, and more forthrightly beautiful take than Newman's. And Tom Waits—what a hopeless romantic he can be when the mood strikes him. His "In Between Love" is a perfect vehicle for Stigers, whose voice drips a simple everyman's emotion here, as does the muted trumpet work.

A distinctive voice, with perfect arrangements and production done with a light touch and a remarkably deft hand on some pop gems; then throw in a couple of first-rate original tunes. Excellent sounds!

Visit Curtis Stigers on the web.

Track Listing

My Babe; That's Allright; Crazy; Everybody Cryin' Mercy; I Can't Stand Losing You; Lullaby on the Hudson; I Think It's Going to Rain Today; Columbus Avenue; Side by Side; In Between Love; It Amazes Me; Take Me Out to the Ballgame (from Game Six).

Personnel

Curtis Stigers
saxophone

Pete McCann, guitar; John Sneider, trumpet; Matthew Fries, piano (#12); Keith Hall, drums (#12); Larry Goldings, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond B3 organ, accordion, and celeste; Matt Wilson, drums; Ben Alison, bass (#2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10); Phil Palombi, bass (#1, 6, 11, 12).

Album information

Title: I Think It's Going to Rain Today | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Concord Music Group

Comments

Tags

Concerts

Apr 6 Sat
Jul 8 Mon
Curtis Stigers
Amager Bio
Copenhagen, Denmark

For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.