Music - The Maturing of a Soul Singer

I remember hearing Boz Scaggs’ “Silk Degrees” album when it came out, in ‘76. It was another great record in a year of them, including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Boz’ old bandmate (and fellow Texan), Steve Miller.

Perhaps it was because I was a huge R&B fan already, having had the nerve to play in a 10-piece integrated band in the mid ‘60’s, that I wasn’t compelled to embrace Boz a deeply as, say, Steely Dan, whose cleverness with famous jazz riffs was brilliant. I listened to the same blues that Boz had, probably.

That finally changed thanks to girl in a beret, in a bookstore in Healdsburg. The store has an amazing music section, especially for the stuff I love: jazz, rock, R&B, the more adult-appealing pop. The girl suggested Boz’ new (at the time) CD, “Memphis”. This intrigued me, because Memphis rules as a music capitol. I really enjoyed it, and heard a maturity in Boz’ voice, style and choice of material that totally resonated for me. I felt I’d discovered a brother. I can’t get over his version of “Can I Change My Mind”. Doing two songs I from Mink DeVille's first album was cool, too.

His next (and most recent) CD, “A Fool To Care”, was cut in Nashville. His drummer produced both CDs; they’re well-engineered with excellent arrangements and instrumentation on all the material. It’s not overcooked; each song comes through with its own identity. A duet with Bonnie Raitt, on her “Hell To Pay”, is a high point.

So I went back to the bookstore. I got Boz’ 2003 jazz vocals CD, “But Beautiful”. It is.
He’s feeling these jazz classics beautifully, singing warmly, but cool (dig?). The final tune, the standard “For All We Know”, is all I need to know to love this album.

Hooked, I decided to spring for his “Essentials” compilation. (Columbia has a good series of “Essential” artists, including Miles Davis.) This two-disc set covers Boz’ career right up to “Memphis”, so I caught up. When I listened to the older stuff, I realized why I hadn’t connected with him before. He had the sensibility, but not the maturity. Then, in 1994, he released “Some Change”, a killer blues-rocker that he wrote. That year, he also did a show with Booker T and the M.G.s,featuring R&B guitar pioneer, Steve Cropper ; “As the Years Go Passing By” indicates how Boz brings it live.  “97’s “It All Went Down the Drain” is dark and bluesy.  In 2001, Boz worked again with David Paich, who had arranged his hits from “Silk Degrees” (“Lowdown”, “Lido Shuffle”). Paich and the great Danny Kortchmar co-produced the album “Dig”, and the feeling deepened another notch. “Miss Riddle” is light and sexy, “I Just Go” is lonely and apologetic, and “Thanks To You” is the song I want to sing to my wife - the lyrics kill me.
(Find the songs on-line; I'd download just the six listed above from "The Essential...")