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JAZZTHING
Randy Bachman
(Ranbach/Universal)
If you think Randy Bachman is just a rock 'n' roller, b-b-b-baby, you ain't heard n-n-n-nothing yet.
Sure, he wrote American Woman and Takin' Care of Business. But the venerable Winnipeg guitarist also penned Undun, Blue Collar and Lookin' Out for #1.
So it's no surprise that Bachman is getting back in the swing of things with his new CD JazzThing. Though it is pleasantly surprising how smoothly he makes the transition.
These 11 new tracks capture the same breezy cocktail-lounge vibe as those older hits, with Randy fronting a crisp little combo, deftly plucking burbling melodic solos like Wes Montgomery and intimately vocalizing in the husky rasp of a more mature Chet Baker.
Interestingly, most of the tracks are Bachman originals instead of the standards you might expect, though Randy does find time to jazz up Johnny Cash's I Walk the Line and croon to some old solo recordings by his mentor, late great jazz guitarist Lenny Breau.
Admittedly, JazzThing's commercial, easy-listening vibe isn't going to wow the Down Beat set. But we think it'll go down just fine when he plays the Windsor Hotel May 18.
Track Listing
1. Let's Call It A Night
2. In Blue
3. That Old Feeling
4. Rose Coloured Glasses
5. Summertime
6. Sentimental Fool
7. I Walk The Line
8. Dead Cool
9. The First Time You Said Hello
10. Breau's Place (Quiet & Blue)
11. Our Leaves Are Green Again