Artist of the Day: Kurt Elling

Vocalist Kurt Elling is, as they say, the real deal. Long esteemed among jazz cognoscenti, Elling's latest disc, The Gate, is simply brilliant. He takes on a host of pop and rock songs one wouldn't expect, like Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" and King Crimson's "Matte Kudesai." In an interview earlier this year, Elling told me he was a King Crimson fan of longstanding and had been contemplating which song of theirs to cover. This was a felicitous choice.

No more so than the rest of the CD, however. He also includes treats by Lennon and McCartney ("Norwegian Wood"), Earth Wind and Fire's "After the Love Is Gone," a couple originals, and the crowning achievement of all, Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady."

His version of "My Foolish Heart" is a staple of his shows, but he also has performed that classic with the Bob Mintzer Big Band. Mintzer's original featured the mellow tones of Michael Franks in a wonderful treatment, but Elling's version is no less brilliant.

It's hard to believe he's been releasing great music since 1995's Close Your Eyes. But it's true. He performed here in Traverse City at Milliken Auditorium several years ago, replacing Diana Krall. (I think we got the better end of that deal.) This past summer's performance at Kresge Auditorium at Interlochen wasn't near a sellout, which was too bad.

Artist of the Day: ABC

Another day, another blog, starting a new string of Artists of the Day. No particular rhyme or reason to the selections, other than they are recording artists from my collection of the weird, wild, wacky and wonderful. While I'm starting at the front of the alphabet, that won't be a trend. If I did that would mean I had to include Queen and Suzi Quatro, and after Yes and Neil Young, Zappa and ZZ Top, where do you go?

Anyway, here's ABC. The stunning debut album, The Lexicon of Love, held such promise, but sadly the band became a hit and miss operation. After the brilliant highs of "Show Me," "Poison Arrow," "Date Stamp" and of course "The Look of Love," subsequent discs simply could not match up. Equal parts Roxy Music, 40s jazz, funky basslines, Louis Prima, and swirling strings, the band's (and lead singer Martin Fry's) dramatic, romantic stylings still stick.

Several moments from the band's career promised a return to form: "When Smoky Sings" from Alphabet City was its biggest hit stateside, and though pretty much ignored, Abracadabra, featured bracing songs mixing house, funk and the inimitable ABC style.

The band is still around, performing on various 80s-theme tours. Me, I'm still kicking myself 30 years on for missing that initial U.S. tour, which featured a 16-piece orchestra. But I am still playing the music, and that's what really counts. Go to abcmartinfry.com.