May 1998

Shannon Gibbons/Martin Taylor/Rufus Reid
A Jimmy Van Heusen Songbook
Decoa Entertainment

By Jeff Kaliss

The good news is in the lyrical romanticism with which Taylor's guitar introduces "Come Dance With Me" and "Darn That Dream," the warmth of Reid's bass in similar service to "Here's That Rainy Day," and the humor and grace which composer Van Heusen, in collaboration with Johnny Burke and other lyricists, placed in these and other standards. The not-so-good news is that singer Gibbons doesn't yet have the credibility or chops to keep company with such songwriters and players.