It was always going to be difficult and no sooner had I ‘closed the book’ on my Smooth Jazz Therapy Top Ten Covers of 2008 than I started to think about some of the great cover versions of the year that, maybe in error, I had missed. First off my attention turned to Chris Geith’s great album ‘Timeless World’ from early in the year on which can be found his brilliantly executed take on the seminal Van Morrison song ‘Have I Told You Lately’. This is one of my all time favorite numbers and consequently I was a little concerned about what Geith might do with it. However my trepidation was misplaced as Geith, with his sensitive interpretation and lightness of touch produced one the great covers of the year. Then of course there was the up and coming Grady Nichols with his CD ‘Take Me With You’. It includes a tight and urgent rendition of ‘Dove’ which when originally recorded by John Moony turned into one of the hottest club hits of 2003. It has the potential to take contemporary jazz to a place where it might just engender a new generation of listeners but, that said, I am indebted to Terry Connelly from Las Vegas for reminding me of yet another of the years best. ‘Mister Magic’ featured on the first of Jason Miles tributes to the great Grover Washington Jr, ‘To Grover With Love’, and when Miles went back into the studio for the follow up, ‘2 Grover With Love’ he took ‘Mister Magic’ with him. The result, courtesy of Maysa’a superbly atmospheric vocal, is nothing short of stunning.
Well, that was a few more of my favorite covers of the year. If you have your own list of favorite covers from 2008 there is still time to e-mail it to me at [email protected]. Happy New Year!!