Search - Buford Powers :: Eclectic

SmoothJazz.com Review

Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 03/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The classic baritones of jazz... Johnny Hartman, Arthur Prysock, Billy Eckstein... are all gone now, but there's an amazing voice I'm going to introduce you to who does a sweet job of channeling the spirit of these greats of yesteryear in a fresh way that resonates beautifully with today's Jazz and Smooth Jazz. Buford Powers has been referred to as "the [San Francisco] Bay Area's most romantic singer" for good reason. In fact, the tunes you'll hear on ECLECTIC, his second release, represent a dozen reasons for this appellation. In keeping with his theme, Mr. Powers moves effortlessly from romantic, contemporary ballads like the Creed/Bell evergreen "Betcha By Golly Wow" and Van Morrison's "Someone Like You" to the Zydeco message song "N'awleans Shuffle (The Katrina Story)" to the bluesy "Room With a View of the Blues" and "T'ain't No Need", both of which also have a Joe Williams vibe to them. In my opinion, though, the signature song on this album is Mr. Powers' intimate and moving reading of Billy Strayhorn's iconic "Lush Life." I'm also especially drawn to the tasty "A Dream Come True" and his very cool, unique treatment of the 50's Roy Hamilton hit "Don't Let Go." The man from Oakland who grew up listening to the sounds of Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Gospel, has brought it all together for ECLECTIC, a truly memorable collection that makes it clear that the torch from the great baritones is still shining brightly through the voice of Buford Powers! ~SCOTT O'BRIEN"