Tony DeSare: Last First Kiss

Harry Connick, Jr., John Pizzarelli, Peter Cincotti, and now, Tony DeSare: this quartet represents the cream of mainstream male jazz vocalists. The Frank Sinatra angle would not be inappropriate, but all of the above are expert on instruments second to their voices.

Tony DeSare, the freshman of this class, slipped onto the scene with 2005's Want You. He might be considered Telarc's answer to Concord's Cincotti, but this shortchanges both men, whose chops are beyond question, whose voices are durable, and whose looks are pure Hollywood. DeSare has a youthful flair to his singing that is infectious and never trite.

DeSare is also an able composer, providing four originals to the assembly of thirteen songs. All are memorable in melody and performance. The title cut and "I'll Never Have Enough of You betray a healthy education in both Tin Pan Alley and more contemporary pop song writing.

DeSare's choice of covers is broad, including a solid performance of Prince's "Kiss and a languidly transformed "I Feel the Earth Move. DeSare swings on the classics with a swaying version of "They Can't Take That Away from Me and a floating "How Deep is the Ocean."

Added to the composing and song selection are DeSare's sidemen, including the capable Harry Allen on tenor saxophone, Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and Keith O'Quinn on trombone. Each is given ample solo time and each lends his own unique brand of grace to the recording. First Last Kiss is a fine answer to Want You.