The colorful liner notes to this sensuous recording by the veteran vocalist and pianist make no bones about
Cole's soothing, relaxing approach to standards that range from the obscure (
Bill Withers' "Watching You, Watching Me") to the way too often recorded (a pleasant, smoky version of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes").
Cole's voice is soft like
Mel Tormé's, a bit rough like
Tony Bennett, but altogether listenable. The real joy comes from the arrangements by
Cole and pianist
Cedar Walton. One of the liveliest of these is the final track, a swinging, soulful version of "You're Sensational," but there are imaginative touches of a subtle big-band sound on many other tracks that bring the production up a notch.
Walton, trumpeter
Lew Soloff, and
Wes Montgomery-styled guitarist
Jerry Byrd are all given ample solo space as well. Similar-styled performers like
Tony Bennett have long garnered more glory for their works, but this is as solid as old-style vocal and trio jazz gets. ~ Jonathan Widran