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A Hot Night In Paris
07/27/1999 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Mike Lipton
Normally when an artist follows a "best of" collection with a live recording, it means one of two things: Either the creative juices have dried up or there's something big in the works. In the case of multiple Grammy winner Phil Collins, the answer is "none of the above." The live disc represents the debut of Collins's big band, a lifelong ambition for the ex-Genesis drummer. But while it may have been his dream since he first heard Buddy Rich in 1966, with swing and big bands the rage, Collins's timing couldn't be better. He's also wisely surrounded himself with some ringers, including saxophonist Gerald Albright, keyboardist Brad Cole, percussionist Luis Conte, and noted arrangers Sammy Nestico and John Clayton, Jr. (none other than Quincy Jones and Tony Bennett joined in for the London debut). While giving tunes like "Invisible Touch" and "Against All Odds" the big-band treatment may sound like a bad idea (and, in theory, it is), the results are surprisingly fresh and energetic. Even better, in the case of "Sussudio" and the ballad "Hold On To My Heart," the tunes are barely recognizable (thanks to the accomplished arrangements). For his take on the Average White Band's "Pick Up The Pieces," Collins calls out the big guns--George Duke and James Carter. Overall, it may be a bit stiff (especially the latter) but tapping the field of real jazz players shows Collins is smarter than he looks.
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