The Jazz Channel Presents Kenny Rankin (BET on Jazz)
Singer-guitarist Kenny Rankin's high, pure tenor voice and unerring  choice of material make this a performance that will delight his fans as well as  those who know little or nothing about this underrated musician. Backed by a  quartet (with pianist Bill O'Connell and the excellent guitarist Joe Beck) and  four string players, Rankin works his way through16 numbersin this intimate, 75-minute concert, recorded in 2001 in Washington, D.C. He moves effortlessly  between standards by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Thelonious Monk, and others, several  Latin-tinged numbers, and a variety of more contemporary material by the Beatles  ("Blackbird," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps") and by Rankin himself. While  Rankin may not be strictly a jazz or pop singer, neither should he be glibly  characterized as an "AOR artist"; there's too much real musicianship happening  here to relegate him to background music status. A "Meet the Artist" interview  and several audio choices comprise the DVD bonus features.--Sam Graham