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.