Many artists reinvent themselves. Elton John never really disappeared, but it was his foray into Broadway that put him back on top. Rod Stewart's string of lousy records is all but forgotten, thanks to his new career as a lounge singer and four creepily successful albums of standards.
This bring me to Boz Scaggs, an artist who has quietly worn many hats and has always maintained an impressive level of respect. This is a man who started out as a blues guitarist playing with the Steve Miller Band and was part of one of the all time great cult classics, Sailor. He then released his first solo album which featured the now legendary "Loan Me A Dime." In two short years, William Royce "Boz" Scaggs had worn two hats successfully. One as West Coast psychedelic blues guitarist, the other as a southern soul and R&B singer, thanks to that brilliant Atlantic records debut recorded at the famed Muscle Shoals recording studios.
Add to this resume, one the most beloved records of all time, 1976's Silk Degrees, a soulful light in the dark of disco that featured such hits as the oft-sampled gem "Lowdown," and the rollicking singalong, "Lido Shuffle," and Boz Scaggs has a career trifecta in his first 8 years on the scene.
On his new release, Speak Low, Scaggs revisits the Great American Songbook, 5 years after his #1 jazz album, But Beautiful. What makes Speak Low stand out among other "standards" records is that it doesn't really stand out. It is so sublime, so natural, you never for a minute think of Boz Scaggs' past. You simply get lost in the beauty of the record itself.
Backed by an all-star band that features Gil Goldstein, Scott Colley, Mike Manieri and Alex Acuna, Scaggs delivers this selection of songs with the intense intimacy of a singer who has been living these songs his whole life. Boz credits the musicians for helping him get the sound and feel just right. "We'd try different things and they always landed in a really interesting pocket."
There are few artists who have jumped genres as naturally as Boz Scaggs. While some still think of him as a blues guitarist and others only know "Silk Degrees," I've followed Boz Scaggs for a long time, anticipating each new venture. He hasn't disappointed me yet. "Speak Low" is a noteworthy addition to an already prodigious catalogue.