KENNY RANKIN: Professional dreamer

KENNY RANKIN
KENNY RANKIN foi um fantástico cantor e guitarrista norte-americano. Tal como tantos outros grandes artistas, nunca teve o reconhecimento que merecia pelo grande público nem foi bafejado pelo sucesso, mas pertencia à seleta categoria de "músico-dos-músicos". Seu estilo de cantar e tocar era econômico e contido, na dose certa - lembrando bastante o fraseado de Chet Baker. Apaixonado pela música brasileira, gravou um álbum "Here in my heart" no Rio de Janeiro. Em outro álbum, "Because of you", Kenny gravou "Berimbáu" e "Doralice". Seu violão tinha marca registrada, um "blend" de "jazz" e "pop" muito elegante. Kenny faleceu em 13 de junho passado, vítima de câncer do pulmão.
R.I.P. Mr. Rankin.
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KENNY RANKIN
Kenny Rankin (Los Angeles, February 10, 1940 - June 7, 2009) was an American pop and jazz singer and songwriter from the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York. Rankin was raised in New York and was introduced to music by his mother, who sang at home and for friends. Early in his career he worked as a singer-songwriter, and developed a considerable following during the 70s with a steady flow of albums, three of which broke into the Top 100 of the Billboard Album Chart. His liking for jazz was evident from an early age, but the times were such that in order to survive his career had to take a more pop-oriented course. By the 90s, however, he was able to angle his repertoire to accommodate his own musical preferences and to please a new audience while still keeping faith with the faithful. Rankin's warm
singing style and his soft, nylon-stringed guitar sound might suggest an artist more attuned to the supper-club circuit than the jazz arena, but his work contains many touches that appeal to the jazz audience. Rankin appeared on The Tonight Show more than twenty times. Host Johnny Carson was so impressed by him that he wrote the liner notes to Rankin's 1967 debut album Mind Dusters, which featured the single
"Peaceful." Rankin's accompanists from time to time included Alan Broadbent, Mike Wofford and Bill Watrous, and on such occasions the mood slips easily into a jazz groove. His compositions have been performed by artists such as Mel Tormé and Carmen McRae, while Stan Getz said of him that he was "a horn with a heartbeat". Rankin was deeply interested in Brazilian music and his Here In My Heart, on which he used jazz
guests including Michael Brecker and Ernie Watts, was recorded mostly in Rio De Janeiro. More contemporary songs were given an airing following his move to Verve Records, including the Beatles' "I've Just Seen A Face" and Leon Russell's "A Song For You." Rankin's own unique gift for reworking classic songs such as The Beatles' "Blackbird," which he recorded for his Silver Morning album, so impressed Paul
McCartney that he asked Rankin to perform his interpretation of the song when McCartney and John Lennon were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Rankin died in Los Angeles from lung cancer on June 7, 2009. He was 67 years old.[2] Alternate source, The Los Angeles Times' obituary, says Rankin was 69.
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ALBUM REVIEW
Kenny Rankin sings the jazz of rainy Sundays by an open fire. His intimate and highly personal style is no better exemplified than on this set, "Professional Dreamer". In many ways it's a departure from his usual repertoire as it consists entirely of classics from the 1940s and 50s. These offerings reflect the musical
values of another era - elegant and genteel songs from a time when melody lines were strong and lyrics ripped with intelligent emotion. These compositions lend themselves perfectly to Rankinesque interpretation. The standout cut "But Not for Me" ripples with a soft Latin undercurrent. Rankin's vocal improvisations are
gentle and deliberate as they paint a soul-sad portrait of someone love has overlooked. Gershwin's beautiful "Our Love is Here to Stay" is another highlight of this very classy set. So too is the cheeky and whimsical "I've Got a Crush on You" and the ultra-evocative "The Very Thought of You". It's all exquisite grist for a very tender mill. His is a warm voice that envelopes you. It's warm, with an incredible range, and incredibly melodic. This is music for jazz vocal fans! An album for the ages - FIVE STARS for Kenny and the jazz of rainy Sundays.
By Thomas L. Bennett (Indented Head, Victoria Australia)
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Kenny Rankin sings like Chet Baker would have if Baker had had a voice. His tone is high (Rankin's speaking voice is actually fairly low) and he has a subtle, cool style. It is a bit of a surprise, but Rankin (whose previous output has been in pop music) is actually a fine jazz singer. He always sticks to the lyrics when performing veteran standards (there is no scatting), but changes many of the notes, even during the melody statements, and he is definitely improvising. Rankin's concept is kind of strange ("At Last" and "The Very Thought of You" are radically changed) but successful and he has a strong and likable voice. An all-star acoustic trio (consisting of pianist Mike Wofford, bassist Brian Bromberg, and drummer Roy McCurdy) backs the singer on most of the tracks, Tom Scott (on tenor and alto) and trombonist Bill Watrous add melodic bop solos to three songs apiece, "It Had to Be You" is taken as a romping duet with pianist Alan Broadbent, and the remarkable singer Sue Raney interacts with Rankin on "I've Got a Crush on You." This surprising CD is highly recommended.
~Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
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MINHA OPINIÃO - este é o álbum mais jazzístico gravado por Kenny Rankin. Além do repertório irrepreensível, arranjos excelentes de um combo formado por "top-notch jazz musicians" emolduram a sua bela voz . O Scott Yanow acerta em cheio quando diz aí em cima que Kenny canta como Chet Baker cantaria se tivesse voz. Suas interpretações de "My one and only love" "More than you know", "The very thought of you", "At last" e "That´s all" merecem figurar numa antologia de classe e bom gosto e se constituem num resumo da "artistry" desse maravilhoso artista que foi Kenny Rankin. OURO EM PÓ!
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KENNY RANKIN: Professional dreamer

PERSONNEL:
Kenny Rankin, voice, accoustic guitar
Mike Wofford, piano
Brian Bromberg, bass
Roy McCurdy, drums
Tom Scott, tenor and alto
Bill Watrous, trombone
Alan Broadbent, piano (track # 6)
Sue Raney, voice (track # 9)

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
2. Very Thought of You
3. But Not for Me
4. I Fall in Love Too Easily
5. More Than You Know
6. It Had to Be You
7. At Last
8. Love Is Here to Stay
9. I've Got a Crush on You (w/ Sue Raney)
10. My One and Only Love
11. Blame It on My Youth
12. How Can I Forget (Song for Margo)
13. That's All