All My Tomorrows

by Thom JurekWhile it's true that Crystal Gayle has never stopped recording, she has virtually disappeared from the public eye. One of the most gifted singers ever to come out of country music, Gayle successfully crossed over into the mainstream because of her signature phrasing and sophisticated material. In fact, since the 1970s, she has transcended all categories and genres, except for the one belonging to "singer." All My Tomorrows is her first album proper since 2000. The album is a collection of American pop songs that are not only well-known, but also deeply loved. To tackle a song like "Cry Me A River" in 2003 without a hint of nostalgia is a brazen act, to deliver one of its most defining reads is the work of an artist, and that happens here. Likewise, few people would ever associate Gayle with Ray Charles, but she does a stellar, jazzed-up version of ""Hallelujah I Love Him (sic) So." Her voice is big and round and wraps itself tightly around and within the lyric. Accompanied by a muted trumpet, big double bass, bongos, a drum kit, and, of course, a piano, her band has a tough, lean, club feel to it that brings the joy back into the song. Other tracks, such as "Sentimental Journey," "I'm Beginning To See The Light," and "It Had To Be You," transcend their many covers and become pillars of great American songcraft once more in Gayle's capable, still stunning voice. One may have to search a bit to find this one in stores, but it can be purchased on-line, and it's well worth the search.