LA Jazz Scene Review - Steele in Love

While many jazz singers are capable of turning a standard inside-out with abstract improvising, sometimes it is just fun to hear a vocalist taking it straight, sticking close to the melody and the lyrics while swinging gently. For that, veteran singer Ken Steele perfectly fits the bill.
A professional singer in Winnipeg, Canada as far back as the 1940s, he sang regularly in Toronto for decades before moving to Los Angeles where he wrote for television sitcoms and radio. In 2002, Steele moved to Palm Springs and began singing again. Now 90, on Steele In Love he shows that he still has a good voice, a quietly expressive style, and impeccable taste in picking out songs to perform.
Ken Steele is joined by guitarist Peter Curtis (who takes many fine solos) and the supportive bassist Baba Elefante for 11 well known standards, Cy Coleman’s lesser-known “Firefly,” and his own “You’re Not There.” While most of the songs are taken at ballad tempos, a few cook at a medium-tempo pace including “A Beautiful Friendship” and “Them There Eyes.” Other selections include such excellent tunes as “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me,” “Let’s Get Lost” and “It Could Happen To You,” each of which benefit from Steele’s affectionate interpretations. - Scott Yannow