Classic Kutz for Contemporary Katz REVIEW
By Robert M. Sutton Robert M. Sutton , CD/DVD Reviewer
Pianist/vocalist Randy Heddon is a smooth operator. Classic Kutz for Contemporary Katz doesn't try to reach for the moon; instead, Heddon's ambitions are modest, and he achieves his simple goals with professionalism and stainless craftsmanship. Classic Kutz is a jazz record, but one that can also be tagged as Adult Contemporary. Mellow and calming, Classic Kutz has all the qualities you'd expect from a smooth jazz release; however, Heddon avoids the cookie-cutter uniformity that too often derails the genre. The Bob Russell/Duke Ellington classic, "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me," opens the record with a cool breeze of lounge jazz; gentle sax and playful piano establishes Heddon's appetite for comfort and joy. George and Ira Gershwin's "Our Love Is Here to Stay" is adapted with a warm smile as Heddon's friendly talking/singing performance is cuddled by Ron Kalina's harmonica. Heddon can also croon exceptionally well, as he does on "The Wee Small Hours of the Morning."
The sprightly piano and summertime bounce of "The Santa Fe Special," a Heddon original, is a delightful surprise, perfectly aligned in style and class with the vintage covers contained on the CD. The witty "My Attorney Bernie" and Cole Porter's "At Long Last Love" find Heddon dancing with infectious Latin rhythms.
Whether the track is slow or fast, it doesn't matter, because the overall effect is always the same: like a hot cup of coffee, it goes down nicely, waking up the senses while relaxing all of the nerves.
All About Jazz
May 2009