Stranger Things Have Happened
Encyclopedia
Stranger Things Have Happened is Justin Guarini
's second album. Independently released in 2005, the album consist of modern jazz arrangements of classic standards, as well as the original title track.
Other talented jazz musicians became involved, resulting in a quartet made up of a pianist (Smith), drummer (Jamey Tate), bassist (Ian Martin), and saxophonist/flutist (Katisse Buckingham). Eventually the quartet recorded tracks with Guarini at Firehouse Studio, a recording studio in Los Angeles, California
. In an informal conversation, the album's drummer described Guarini as "nails in the studio" and someone who "sings from the heart". Flutist Buckingham told his story of initially being reluctant when first approached because of the American Idol
connection (although he admittedly had never watched the show and was unfamiliar with Guarini), but quickly changed his mind after hearing Guarini sing a portion of "My Funny Valentine" in 5/4 time.
when contrasted with his band's jazz chops has a nice, relaxed appeal". The Philadelphia Inquirer
likened Guarini to "an earthier Al Jarreau
" saying of the album, "Guarini displays an agile, attractive voice with good phrasing, supported by a sophisticated and funky backing ensemble".
Justin Guarini
Justin Guarini is an American singer/songwriter and actor who rose to fame in 2002 as the first runner-up on the debut season of the television show American Idol.-Background:...
's second album. Independently released in 2005, the album consist of modern jazz arrangements of classic standards, as well as the original title track.
Background
According to jazz musician Greg Gordon Smith, the album came into being after he first heard Guarini singing in a club. Impressed by Guarini's vocal skills, he approached Guarini to collaborate on music, eventually becoming the arranger/pianist on the album. Smith also wrote the album's title track. In an interview for the blog site Essential Justin Smith made this comment about Guarini, "What we're all really hoping for as artists is to know that someone heard us and really felt something. Justin had that effect on me when I first heard him sing. "Stranger Things" was my attempt to put that phenomenon into music and relate it to his experiences lyrically". He also said of Guarini, "Anyone else as gifted as Justin would be arrogant, especially in this business. He is never anything but a pleasure to work with and be around".Other talented jazz musicians became involved, resulting in a quartet made up of a pianist (Smith), drummer (Jamey Tate), bassist (Ian Martin), and saxophonist/flutist (Katisse Buckingham). Eventually the quartet recorded tracks with Guarini at Firehouse Studio, a recording studio in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. In an informal conversation, the album's drummer described Guarini as "nails in the studio" and someone who "sings from the heart". Flutist Buckingham told his story of initially being reluctant when first approached because of the American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
connection (although he admittedly had never watched the show and was unfamiliar with Guarini), but quickly changed his mind after hearing Guarini sing a portion of "My Funny Valentine" in 5/4 time.
Critical reception
The album of reinvented jazz classics was described by AllMusic as "a successful reinvention... where his natural skills shine", and that Guarini's "charismaCharisma
The term charisma has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent. For some theological usages the term is rendered charism, with a meaning the same as sense 2...
when contrasted with his band's jazz chops has a nice, relaxed appeal". The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
likened Guarini to "an earthier Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
" saying of the album, "Guarini displays an agile, attractive voice with good phrasing, supported by a sophisticated and funky backing ensemble".
Track listing
- "Night & Day" (Cole PorterCole PorterCole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
) – 3:44 - "My Funny Valentine" (Lorenz HartLorenz HartLorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart...
, Richard RodgersRichard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
) – 3:51 - "Just Squeeze Me" (Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Lee Gaines) – 2:34 - "I'll Take Romance" (Ben OaklandBen OaklandBen Oakland was an American composer, lyricist and pianist most active from the 1920s through the 1940s. He composed mainly for Broadway and vaudeville, though he also worked on several Hollywood scores including for the film My Little Chickadee.Oakland often composed music only, collaborating...
, Oscar Hammerstein IIOscar Hammerstein IIOscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
) – 3:23 - "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" (Hart, Rodgers) – 2:49
- "I Love You" (Porter) – 3:20
- "Young & Foolish" (Albert HagueAlbert HagueAlbert Hague was a German-born songwriter, composer, and actor.-Early life:Hague was born as Albert Marcuse to a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany. His father, Harry Marcuse, was a psychiatrist and a musical prodigy, and his mother, Mimi , a chess champion...
, Arnold B. Horwitt) – 2:25 - "All Of You" (Porter) – 3:33
- "Stranger Things Have Happened To Me" (Greg Gordon Smith) – 3:34
- "Sing" (Joe RaposoJoe RaposoJoseph Guilherme Raposo, OIH was a Portuguese-American composer, songwriter, pianist, television writer and lyricist, best known for his work on the children's television series Sesame Street, for which he wrote the theme song, as well as classic songs such as "Bein' Green" and "C is for Cookie"...
) – 2:05