Former Imperials lead vocalist, Wayne Bartlett enters in the jazz world on the sneak with his debut, Senor Blues. Fronting an European quartet, Bartlett’s velvet baritone caresses the mix bag of originals and R&B and jazz classics with soulful kisses that sometimes borders on loungy smaltz. Originals like “I Betcha A Rainbow” and “I’d Rather Ride An Elephant” show glimpses of quirky lyrical ingenuity the spirit of Oscar Brown, Jr., but the abrasively cheery “I Walk With Music” is too bright even for the optimistic. Withstanding minor flaws, Senor Blues offers a swinging blues-informed experience with just a twist of cabaret charm.
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