There were few important new male jazz singers on the scene when Kevin Mahogany released his stunning CD debut as a leader, accompanied by a first-call rhythm section consisting of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Lewis Nash, plus tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore added on selected tracks. Gifted with a rich baritone, Mahogany begins with a powerful interpretation of "All Blues," followed by a fun scatted exchange with Nash to introduce a romp through "Confirmation," in which he masters Eddie Jefferson's ...
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There were few important new male jazz singers on the scene when Kevin Mahogany released his stunning CD debut as a leader, accompanied by a first-call rhythm section consisting of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Lewis Nash, plus tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore added on selected tracks. Gifted with a rich baritone, Mahogany begins with a powerful interpretation of "All Blues," followed by a fun scatted exchange with Nash to introduce a romp through "Confirmation," in which he masters Eddie Jefferson's vocalese lyrics at a fast tempo without a slip and makes a number of funny detours in the scatted solo that follows. Other highlights include the shimmering "Double Rainbow," the soulful ballad "Our Love Remains," a comical interpretation of "Dat Dere," and a reverent interpretation of Charles Mingus' "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love." Mahogany's "Three Little Words" (not the well-known standard with the same title) is a pretty ballad set as a bossa nova. To wrap his outstanding introductory CD, he closes with a gospel-flavored take of Sam Cooke's "Bring It on Home." ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi
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