A World Still Turning

by Judith SchlesingerWhat a pleasure to be introduced to a male vocalist who's soulful and original, as opposed to a Sinatra clone or someone more interested in his own voice than his message. British-bornIan Shaw has a supple, wide-ranging voice that can be smooth or rough-edged, strong or whispery, with naturalistic phrasing that makes each word believable. The material on A World Still Turning, Shaw's third U.S. release, is an intriguing mix of jazz, pop, blues, and rock, all distilled by his versatility into engaging, personal music. You can hear hints of his icons, Mel Tormé and Sarah Vaughan, in his style, as well a touch of Mark Murphy, who joins him on the congenial, rousing blues "Soon as the Weather Breaks." one of the CD's highlights. Another is Eric Alexander's luscious solo on "This is Always"; then there's the compelling duo between Shaw and the ever-exquisite Billy Childs on "I'm Glad There is You," and the rocking "Gotta Serve Somebody" by Bob Dylan, with fine guitar embroidery by Paul Bollenback. With characteristic daring, Shaw taps into the songbook of Kurt Weill, Elton John, Jimmy Dorsey, Horace Silver, and Bob Dylan, as well as writing the searing, poignant "Rockabye," about a mother whose son dies in a desert war. Surrounded by a superb group of players, Shaw has constructed a CD that's satisfying on all the major levels: intellectually, emotionally, and musically.