Search - Craig Rubano :: Change Partners

A superb - if mellow - follow-up to his first album.

L. Baker | now in Texas | 03/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Change Partners" is one of the most soothing albums I've ever bought and I bought it on the basis of Craig's first impeccable album, "Finishing the Act." While that album featured a lot of "known gems" with a few "unknowns", this album explores exactly the opposite. I doubt you'll have heard more than a few of these songs before. Even so, you'll love the introduction Craig Rubano gives them. His voice thunders when it needs to and soothes when appropriate, but throughout, he treats his material with utmost respect. This is a man who loves to sing and the variety of his song choices are delicious. Now and then some of the arrangements bordered on smaltzy in a "Kit Kat Klub" kind of way, but mostly the piano, bass, percussion trio provided an intimate feeling that was perfect for the material. Guest instrumentalists appear here and there for added flavor - an alto sax, a trombone, a clarinet - but they are never used to excess. On a few of the songs, I literally could not believe my ears at the range of this man. His baritone is absolutely pure but he also has a very high top on his range and he never hides vocal flaws with an overdone vibrato (a.k.a. Mandy Patinkin). If anything, and I'm surprised to hear myself say it, he reminds me of Anthony Warlow's perfectly trained baritone. Not that anyone can really surpass Warlow's voice, but Craig Rubano makes a legitimate claim to aspire there. If you want to hear what a great singer can do, give Craig Rubano a listen - you won't be disappointed."