This One's for You

For his debut album, singer Doug Ferony has opted to go with a set of familiar standards and pop tunes which he delivers backed either by a big band or a smaller group, usually a trio. Ferony is a full-throated, strong baritone in the tradition of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Dick Haymes. His full-speed-ahead approach to the music is anything but timid. He works with the big band on such tunes as "I Won't Dance" and "Paper Moon." The band is an outstanding collection of musicians and includes such stellar veteran jazz performers as Eddie Bert and Rod Levitt. The small group backs such tunes as "Unforgettable," where alto sax player Michael Dopazo contributes a sweet solo, and a relaxed, laid-back "I Could Write a Book." One of the album's big pluses are the big band arrangements, which are worth the price of admission alone. Another major attraction is the work of pianist Dena DeRose, who anchors both the small and large aggregations and contributes some of the arrangements. There are some superb solos, such as Danny Patiris' tenor and Mel Pascal's guitar on "Blue Suede Shoes." The only reservation about this session is that in his eagerness to deliver the tune powerfully, Ferony sometimes lets the pitch slip away from him. But his strong performance on such tunes as "Summer Wind" and "Georgia" make up for that occasional infraction.