Can't We Be Friends is a fine recording of some really classic vocal standards. In particular, the instrumentalists do a fantastic job on this CD. Their solo and ensemble work, and even just the overall sound, are immaculate. “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” shows off the players well, from the very light, but also very tight, slightly Latin rhythms to the tenor sax solo that drips with feeling. It's all good! That brings us to the vocals, then...
Jerry Costango's vocals are good. He's a fine crooner. I'm afraid, though, that he just doesn't sparkle like I want the singer to do with this kind of music. To effectively sell these immortal tunes there has to be something really special about the singer, and here the singing is just good. I guess I find myself asking “Why would I get this recording when I can get singers like Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra doing these songs?”
I'm a little confused by the subtitle of the album, too. “Bringing the American Songbook Into The 21st Century”? While these are all quite good recordings, I must say that I hear nothing that is overly different from the way they've been done before. They seem just as 20th century to me here as they did when they were first written. I suppose that if what Costanzo is meaning to do is simply introduce a new generation to these songs, then that makes since... Anyway, summing it up, this is a good CD. At times it's even great, but just not as great as when the Greats did them before. Why don't you fans of The American Songbook give it a listen and judge for yourselves?
Key Tracks- East of the Sun (West of the Moon), Perhaps, Perhaps,Perhaps (Quizas, Quizas, Quizas), Stairway to the Stars
Donny Harvey- MuzikReviews.com Staff
September 22, 2011
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