Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, live sessions and more!
Start Your Free Trial

This is the 1st of your 3 free articles

Become a member for unlimited website access and more.

FREE TRIAL Available!

Learn More

Already a member? Sign in to continue reading

Kenny Rankin: Here In My Heart

JazzTimes may earn a small commission if you buy something using one of the retail links in our articles. JazzTimes does not accept money for any editorial recommendations. Read more about our policy here. Thanks for supporting JazzTimes.

For his second Private Music album (following Professional Dreamer, 1995), crooner Kenny Rankin flawlessly delivers 13 love ballads and South American-flavored songs, with non-intrusive backing from top soloists.

Saxophonists Michael Brecker and Ernie Watts, keyboardist Don Grusin, guitarists Oscar Castro-Neves, harmonica player Toots Thielemans, and Ricardo Silveira add politely to the session. Singers Rosa Pasos, Babele Gilberto, and Rankin’s daughters, Gena and Chanda, augment some tunes.

A 30-year veteran, Rankin knows how to work a song. He sings straight from his heart to tell stories with lyrics. Serving up romance with intimate, Chet Baker-like vocals, Rankin paints Cool hues with tender improvisations around melodies.

Also a polished songwriter, Rankin contributes two easy-swaying originals to this well-paced, sentimental album, which includes songs by Jobim, Ivan Lins (with English lyrics by Brock Walsh), and others.

Rankin’s soft timbre and high-toned vocals grace each song with beguiling sweetness and beauty, shaping Here In My Heart into a dreamy album for lovers.