BOBBY CALDWELL
Come Rain Or Come Shine (Sin-Drome)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Though the "neo-swing" crowd is throwing up a batch of pretenders to the throne, there aren't many singers around these days with the presence and power to stand up against a 60 piece big band. Even rarer is one one with both the audacity and the ability to attempt a raid on the chapters of the Great American Songbook long marked Property Of Mr. Sinatra. Whatever short list of singers you might come up with that could make such a project work, be sure to include Bobby Caldwell among them.

Though his style owes as much or more to Bobby Darin than to the Chairman of the Board, Bobby Caldwell shows himself to be fully equal to the material on Come Rain Or Come Shine (whether he's fully equal to his mentors is a religious arguement best saved for another day...). While the definitive versions of some of these songs have long been laid down in the minds of many listeners, Caldwell does full credit to each one, and in some cases makes a strong case for offering a definitive statement of his own. I find his take on "Old Devil Moon" and "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry" particularly impressive, and Caldwell's own "April Moon" holds its place securely among classics from the pens of masters like Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer and Sammy Cahn.

Note should be taken of the outstanding contribution of alto saxophonist Karolyn Kafer, who adds the best solos on the album, hitting the right mood at the right time over and over.

If you've been bitten by the jump blues bug that's passing for swing these days, get ahold or Come Rain Or Come Shine and get a dose of the real deal.

Track List: Come Rain Or Come Shine * Old Devil Moon * Day In, Day Out * I'll Be Around * Indian Summer * I've Got You Under My Skin * I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry * The Best Is Yet To Come * Beyond The Sea * April Moon * I've Got The World On A String * Ill Wind * Come To Me

© 1999 - Shaun Dale