Perhaps the most surprising thing about MAC award nominee Julian Yeo’s latest CD, Unusual Passage, is how straightforward it is. There are no gimmicks or twists for this album: Yeo sings pure, old-fashioned jazz in a style that’s straight out of the 1930s. For the older numbers, it’s a lovely return to a lost way of performing. For the more modern songs, it’s a fascinating reimagining of the contemporary as classic, and proof of how timeless a well-written song can be.

The songlist features 15 classic numbers that have been interpreted time and again by numerous artists, sometimes for the better and sometimes not. Yeo avoids any new “takes” on these standards, crooning “Speak Low,” “You’re Getting to be a Habit With Me” and “Quando, Quando, Quando” with elegant simplicity, and evoking Crosby, Astaire and Sinatra with his smooth style. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the ultimate effect is quite refreshing: Yeo’s youthful energy gives these standards a jolt of excitement and energy while preserving the old-fashioned sound. He clearly respects these songs, and sings them with great affection and care. “Mack the Knife,” sung almost in a whisper, has never been more quietly chilling, and “Nature Boy” is sweetly sad.

The six-piece band, led by Jesse Gelber, creates a full, rich sound that nicely complements Yeo’s warm and gentle voice. Listening to the album, one can easily imagine how these now-classic songs sounded when they were the new hits. In Yeo’s care, everything old is new again.

Jena Tesse Fox
Cabaret Scenes
July/August 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org