You would think a long-standing duo such as vocalist Patti Cathcart and guitarist Tuck Andress would have covered the American Songbook on one of their many releases over the past 20 some years but it simply is not the case. I Remember You is their first complete recording dedicated to covers of the jazz book of classic songs and the couple’s way of saying hello again to all the tunes they love.
I found this collection refreshing. The way Tuck & Patti present the songs of The Great American Songbook makes each one new and all their own. At times, the standards do not seem to hold that recognizable sound or reference, which again makes the entire listen a joy and something different even though it is the dreaded “cover” album. They escape all the traps and clichés and produce a beautiful album with two voices, the guitar of Tuck and the silky smooth vocals of Patti.
Tuck plays an electric guitar the way one would pluck an eight string acoustic and it sounds like an acoustic in a most convincing way, with the exception of times he uses the electric’s capabilities by inserting a fader effect that finds a place in most of the songs. It turns out to be pleasing without becoming a hindrance to the process the couple is adventuring to accomplish.
What more can be said about the 10 tracks that get the treatment here from Tuck & Patti? You will recognize the names but will be surprised how much different they all sound now thanks to the ingenuity and creative genius of this unwavering pair.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-September 3, 2008
