Always
Sam Harris's 2002 solo releaseAlwaysmight well be his most enjoyable to date. Spanning two CDs and 72 minutes, it touches on the musical theater that has become his trademark (Stephen Sondheim's "Not While I'm Around") and classic standards ("Our Love Is Here to Stay," "My Funny Valentine"), but concentrates on pop ballads of the '70s and '80s, including "Longer," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," "The Wind Beneath My Wings," "If," and "The Rose," subtly accompanied by piano, keyboards, and guitar. Mellow fare, to be sure, but he also opens up his powerful voice with the soaring "Somewhere Out There." Harris fans will still wantStandard TimeandDifferent Stagesfor their Broadway slant and the gospel-focusedRevivalto rock the house, butAlwaysis simply beautiful stuff.--David Horiuchi