John Ambrosini: Songs for You

John Ambrosini is a New York City-based pianist, composer and arranger. He has a number of recordings to his credit and this one, strictly speaking, is a bit of a departure. Ambrosini's band is populated by a number of well-known jazz professionals in and around the city. So the music swings and the solos—including piano—are all worth hearing.

It may be that Ambrosini is a stronger player than singer, something not unusual among instrumentalists who sing. The tunes here are pop and even a smattering of rock ("The Long and Winding Road"). Steely Dan's "Pretzel Logic" (from Pretzel Logic, ABC Records, 1974) is probably as close as it comes to being generational anthem, if one were to name one. When Ambrosini sings "these days are gone forever, a long time ago" a listener might nod in agreement, even though Ambrosini's version is quite different from Donald Fagen and Walter Becker's. "New York State of Mind" is another good one, and if Ambosini is not Billy Joel, well, who is? Same for Jackson Browne and "Doctor My Eyes." A performer who covers it sets the bar pretty high. Ambrosini includes two originals as well, "Lover" and "Maybe I'm Crazy."

Fans of Ambrosini will no doubt enjoy the recording a great deal, especially those looking for something other than the straight jazz canon. Ambrosini takes one there very capably.