Los Angeles, CA. (Top40 Charts) The promise and thrill of romance brought a Los Angeles crowd and industry types out en masse last Friday night (June 19), packing trendy
Molly Malone's Irish Pub for a set by jazz crooner Steven Davis during which he previewed songs from "What Happened To Romance," the vocalist's first big band foray that was released Tuesday (June 23) by First Second Records. Dashing in a dapper black suit and crisp white shirt, Davis plied his charismatically classic voice to the refreshingly original songs of love that he wrote with the album's producers The 88s - Josh Charles and Alissa Moreno. Opening his smitten heart, he shared the timeless tales of romantic ardor that serve as muse on the charming 14-track album while backed by the swinging grooves etched by a tight acoustic jazz ensemble.
"What Happened To Romance" was recorded in New York City where Davis's "chairman of the board" voice was buttressed by The After Midnight Orchestra, comprised of original members of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands, under the direction of Andy Farber, who also deftly served as arranger. The big band setting suits Davis snuggly like his custom-tailored attire. Jazz radio stations across the nation were serviced the album for airplay and early reviews have unanimously embraced the recording.
The summer swoon stirred by "What Happened To Romance" bodes to enchant hearts straight through the holiday season as the regal new disc marks only the beginning of a remarkably prolific period for Davis and The 88s, who met and began collaborating last fall in Nashville. This spring, the velvety vocalist and creative team have been ensconced in famed Los Angeles recording studios East West crafting a big band Christmas collection of original material along with one evergreen, "Have Yourself A Merry
Little Christmas." Also in the vault is an outing in which Davis is placed in the more intimate confines of a jazz trio. Look for the holiday album to be released in time to gift lovers this year while the trio session will be unwrapped next year.
Below are snippets from some of the album reviews:
"The swinging 14 tracker is an affirmation that romance is always in vogue and sonically the set has its roots in the era of the Great American Songbook.... though of the 14 songs, only two are actually from that era…Such is the quality of the original songs that there's no visible (should that be audible?) hiatus between them and those venerable chestnuts." - Soul and Jazz and Funk
"The album is a throwback to the jazz and swing 'American Standard' sound of the '40s and focuses on sharp melodies and meaningful lyrics." - East Valley Tribune
"He sounds
Rat Pack hip on 'Love Comes Right On Time' and has an excellent sense of timing on the Latin 'Perfectly Perfect.' Whether he's shooting for Vegas, Hollywood or Branson, he's gonna please the crowd." - Jazz Weekly
"All at once insist comparisons in a class with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett,
Dean Martin and Rosemary Clooney. Steven has a voice suitable for this genre. The songs he and Josh Charles and Alissa
Moreno wrote therefore really fit into the list of the repertoire of the aforementioned masters." - Keys & Chords
"It's a nice comfy fit throughout, especially since Davis doesn't try to make you think he's Sinatra. All that's missing here is the sound of martini glasses clinking." - Midwest Record
"They bring back the grand sound of the big band era…taking me back to the Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and
Frank Sinatra sound" - The Pulse of Entertainment/EUR Web
For additional information, please visit www.StevenDavisMusic.com.
