Giacomo Gates is not only one of the leading practitioners of vocalese, he takes material from a wide range of composers and makes it his own. Whether it's uptempo bop , ballads or blues, Gates' intimate style gives you the feeling he is in your living room singing just to you.
He pays homage to his vocal heroes on his new disc "Everything Is Cool". Jon Hendricks, Babs Gonzalez, King Pleasure, Eddie Jefferson and others are among the legendary vocalists that are honored in this collection. Gates previously paid tributes to Gil Scott-Heron and Miles Davis.
Gates is joined by his longtime pianist John Di Martino, saxophonist Grant Stewart, guitarist Tony Lombardozzi , Ed Howard on bass and Willard Dyson on the drums. Highlights include the bluesy " If I Were You Baby, I'd Love Me" , a seldom heard tune composed by Timmie Rodgers for Nat Cole. The well known "Social Call" and "Take Five" and a very effective rendition of Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue", a number that is becoming a jazz standard among singers these days.
Gates once again has delivered another gem. A diverse set of songs with his warm baritone and sympathetic musical backing that ranges from romance to humor to wistfulness that is a cut above most vocal jazz albums today.