This is the third album I’ve heard by vocalist/songwriter Alex Bird, and he is not only not wearing out his welcome, but he’s continuing to grow as an artist. He’s usually associated with the bopping band The Mavericks, but this time Bird flips the band for just pianist Ewen Farncombe for a personal collection of duets.
His voice and delivery are reminiscent of Sammy Davis Jr., with a mix of that similar “wham” and loose collar late night atmosphere. He’s saloon casual on arias such as “This Song Is Ours” and he sets them up, Joe, around Farncombe’s moonlight sonata of “The Soul I Left Behind” and is blue and gritty on the after hours of “Songwriter”. Speaking of which, the pianist is a perfect partner, giving a relaxed obligato a la Guaraldi as Bird swoops into subtones on “Raindrops (Falling Down)” or giving a Chopinesque nocture for Bird’s dives on “Tiny Warble”. Most intriguing is the tension built up by the two as Bird agonizes around Farncomb’s swirling ivories during “What’s Inside” while assuringly conversant on “I’ll Go Where You Lead”.
In this world, of ordinary singers, extra-ordinary singers, I’m glad there is Bird. Check him out, and beg for a tour some day.