BROADWAY BY DAY – Spencer Day (CLUB44 Records)
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Spencer Day’s new album Broadway By Day has been released through Club44 Records and features the Grammy-nominated vocalist, Jane Monheit, as well as the nine-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist, Dave Koz.
After years of chart-topping hits of self-penned songs, Spencer thought it was the best time now for his first album dedicated to classic Broadway. “Over the years, everyone from radio DJs and labels reps to fans and collaborators have encouraged me to do an album of standards or Broadway songs. When I first became a performer, as I was being compared to Harry Connick Jr. and later Michael Bublé, I was focusing on my own songwriting and resisted doing an album of anyone else’s work. So I had never done a straight-up swinging record. I wanted it to be organic, to wait until the right moment. I feel like Broadway by Day hits that sweet spot: I’ve been able to put my individual stamp on these selections, yet stay true to the original material.”
Spencer Day has a jazzy crooner vocal style that reminds you of Bublé, Connick Jr and Mel Tormé (for the older reader!). He has taken 12 musical numbers and put his own distinctive stamp on them. I have to admit that some work better than others and, not being a huge fan of the jazz genre, I did find them blending into one another by the time I got to the end of the CD. However, that does not take away from Spencer’s sultry, relaxed style and, although it is not my favourite genre, I found it very easy to listen to the tracks.
Tracks are: ‘One’, ‘Bali Hai’, ‘Maybe’, ‘Getting to Know You’, ‘I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You’ (my favourite on the album), ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’, ‘It Only Takes a Moment’, ‘If I Loved You’, ‘Who Will Buy’, ‘Losing My Mind’, ‘On the Street Where You Live’ and ‘What I Did For Love’.
Any lovers of musical theatre who also have a love of jazzy, blues music will absolutely adore this album as there is no denying Spencer Day’s immaculate performances.
Nick Wakeham
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