American Song

American Song

After a late-'90s career revival with albums like the indelible Shades of Bey, this veteran singer-pianist scored his first Grammy nomination with 2004's American Song. The warm-voiced Bey puts his mark on ten tunes, most undeniably standard but open to new twists in his hands. Languid but emotionally potent, Bey makes something of song that have long been associated with definitive readings-Frank Sinatra on "Angel Eyes," Johnny Hartman on "Lush Life"-as if to remind us that these standards remain relevant. A couple of less well-known songs also make deep impressions: Hear what Bey does with the Nat "King" Cole obscurity "Never Let Me Go." This is a great record by an artist with much left to say, who's fortunately finding a growing audience for his music.

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