New York-based David Coss’ first album takes the safe route by sticking with familiar standards and traditional pop tunes. But this is anything but another ho-hum session where the performers give a perfunctory reading of well-trod material. Instead, this session comes off as a refreshing journey as Coss makes the songs sound new again. On up-tempo tunes, Coss has a swagger to his delivery that reminds one of the way that Mel Tormé used to go at faster-paced material as on such cuts as “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” The ballads are handled as individual gems each getting a heartfelt expression. Coss even sings the rarely heard verse of “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” which is the big production piece of the set. The accompaniment comes from two sources, the major one being from a fine singer in her own right — Dena DeRose, who is also an exemplar pianist and rewarded with an extended solo on “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To.” Another of the surprises this album offers is the baritone sax of Claire Daly, whose biting solos appear on five tracks. Her heavy tone is put to good use on a soulful “Born to Blue” but doesn’t stop her from moving along at quick time on “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Coss doesn’t have that full, smooth baritone many of the singers of this material were blessed with. But with his warm supple vocal chords, he makes the most of what he has and he meets the basic criteria of a singer, he stays in pitch, has good diction applying wordless vocalizing judiciously but effectively. There are many inventive, inspired moments on this debut album which is recommended. – Dave Nathan
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