Jamie Davis
Vibe Over Perfection
Dig Records
By George W. Harris

This is the second release put out by the rich baritoned voice of Jamie Davis. 06’s “It’s a Good Thing” was on my top ten list. This one is just as good, and again, with a band to match. Including members of The Count Basie Orchestra, Davis goes through a set of standards and a couple of surprises. Davis’ voice on “Blue Skies” and “The Look Of Love” just drips like molasses from a jar. He also takes “Nature Boy” and turns it into a hard swinging affair that will get your spine re-aligned. The pleasant surprises are what he does with a couple of modern tunes. With the band in funky form, he goes through the Sly and Family Stone classic “If You Want Me To Stay” with aplomb and vigor, not to mention coherence that was missing in the original. His treatment of Lionel Richie’s “Hello” is another perfectly suited outfit, with the lines all matching. Don’t believe the title of this disc; this disc is vibe WITH perfection.