Asking sandpapery Steve Tyrell to record an entire album of Disney movie anthems seems rather like choosing Rocky Balboa to narrate Bambi. Yet the mixed marriage of hailstorm-voiced Tyrell and sunshiny arrangements of kiddie pop tunes proves a surprisingly blessed one. The disc’s appeal can be credited to Tyrell’s good taste in both material and musical companions. Among the latter are smooth-jazz pin-up boy Chris Botti, contributing an appropriately soft and mellow trumpet solo to “When You Wish Upon a Star,” saxophonist Dave Koz, adding an equally tender touch to Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be in My Heart” and Dr. John, joining Tyrell for what can only be described as a pull-all-the-stops rasp-off on “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
Steve Tyrell: The Disney Standards
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