Album: Kurt Elling, The Gate (Decca)

Reviewed by Phil Johnson

Sunday 06 March 2011

Despite a version of Earth Wind & Fire's "After The Love Is Gone" that is so good you can play it for days, this dream-team collaboration between jazz singer Elling and big-time weirdo producer Don Was delivers less than it promises.

The choice of songs is both conventional and odd (a naff "Norwegian Wood", a cheesy "Golden Lady"), while the production is relatively anonymous. Elling sings well, as always, but there's no advance on his earlier "Nightmoves". If only we could hear.

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