Rob Keiter
The Glory of Love
Sketchin Records
www.sketchinrecords.com
By George W. Harris

Here’s a singer I’ve never heard of before, and I like his taste. Keiter’s got a rich tenor/baritone sound to his voice-nice and relaxed, never pushing the issue. He’s supported by an all star team of Rob Whitlock/p, Trey Henry/b, Cliff Almond/dr, and Pat Kelley/g, all LA cats of the highest order, as well as some guest work by Randy Brecker/tp, Andy Martin/tb, Wayne Bergeron/tp and John Rekevics/woodwinds. He sticks mostly to covers, but they tunes are clever picks; Stevie Wonder’s “Looking For Another Pure Love” and “Laughter In The Rain” were choices of genius, while The Beatles’ “For Know One” is not a bad call either. He puts them in the “adult contemporary” vein, and makes it work well. Tunes like “Get Happy” and “Alfie” sound hip without being too hep, while Rob Whitlock’s “Grateful for a Pleasant Trip” is a real find. Look out for this guy. Is he playing the Best Coast soon?