JazzTimes is honored to present the premiere of “You’re All That Matters to Me” by singer, songwriter, and saxophonist Curtis Stigers. The track will appear on his upcoming album, This Life, out February 25.
If the song’s title sounds familiar, it should; Stigers wrote it for and first recorded it on his self-titled debut, released in 1991. In keeping with the retrospective theme of the new album—which he describes as “a celebration of three decades of musical exploration, evolution and growth, a look back at 13 albums, thousands of concert performances and millions of miles on the road”—the song has been revisited to reflect the way its character has changed after 30 years of live renditions.
Perhaps most notably, the new recording features Stigers playing soprano saxophone for the first time on record. “I was shooting for the emotional tone and effect Wayne Shorter’s horn had on Joni Mitchell’s records,” he says.
Besides Stigers, the song features pianist Matthew Fries, bassist Cliff Schmitt, and drummer Keith Hall. Initially intended as a tribute of sorts to the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” it has evolved over time, Stigers notes, “from a show-stopping pop/soul anthem into an intimate, heartfelt love song, and it still stops the show every night.”
“You’re All That Matters to Me” isn’t the only tune that gets a new take on This Life. Early Stigers hits “I Wonder Why” and “Never Saw a Miracle” are revamped as well, along with fresh versions of Nick Lowe’s “(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”—which Stigers originally recorded in 1992 for the hit film The Bodyguard—and the album’s title track, which first saw life in 2008 as the theme for the TV show Sons of Anarchy (and was later nominated for an Emmy Award).
For more information on Curtis Stigers, visit his website.
