You Showed Me The Way
California Soul, 2024
8/10
Listen to You Showed Me The Way
The singer, pianist and composer Cliff Beach brings a wealth of talent and imagination to these 13 lively tracks that are centered around jazz, but don’t shy away from many other genres, too.
The lively and soaring “That Old Time Feeling” starts the listen with the bright brass and Munenori Kishi’s glowing keys complementing Beach’s soulful pipes, and “Round Midnight” follows with a calmer approach of fluid drumming thanks to Satoshi Kirisawa and Andy Moreski’s warm guitar.
Moving towards the middle, the funky and groove filled “Honeysuckle Rose” makes great use of mood alongside Luis Cárena-Casillas’ and Joe Ferruzzo’s radiant trumpet, while “I’m Beginning To See The Light” showcases smooth melodies amid the expressive singing from Beach.
Close to the end, the intimate “You Showed Me The Way” places the mature keys into a dreamy landscape of beauty and grace, and “The Gift Of The Blues” exits with lively horns, thumping drums and an indeed bluesy presence that illustrates just how versatile Beach’s pipes are.
This is Beach’s first step into jazz standard territory as far as an LP goes, and his influences from Stevie Wonder and Ella Fitzgerald sure are appreciated. Though we’ve all heard these songs covered before, they’ve never sounded quite like this thanks to the colorful and swingin’ fun.
Travels well with: Mark Winkler- The Rules Don’t Apply; Jeremy Monteiro- Sings