Shades of Bey
As in previous recordings, Bey adds another "shade" to the genius of Billy Strayhorn with his beautiful voice-piano rendition of "Pretty Girl (The Star-Crossed Lovers)" and his spectral interpretation of "The Last Night of the Evening (Blood Count)." Bey also makes an appearance south of the border with his guitar-laced takes of "Drume Negrita (Afro-Cuban Lullaby)," and the Brazilian-blended ballad, "Like a Lover (O Cantador). Add the anthemic original "Believin' It (Half and Half)" and a heartening reading of Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time," and you have ample evidence that Andy Bey is simply the most exciting jazz singer of his generation.--Eugene Holley, Jr.