ROCKWiRED iNTERViEWS CURTiS STiGERS

DECEMBER 7, 2009
DREAM A LiTTLE DREAM
CURTiS STiGERS TALKS TO ROCKWiRED
ABOUT HiS LATEST CD LOST iN DREAMS
HiS LOVE OF iNTERPRETATiON
AND MAKiNG FOLKS TEAR UP

Saxophonist and vocalist CURTIS STIGERS is twenty years and ten albums deep into a music career filled with twists and turns. Back when he released his self-titled debut album on ARISTA, it was easy to write off STIGERS as the next BOLTON-in-waiting despite the guy’s rich, soulful delivery and immense musicality. It was no time at all before STIGERS grew disillusioned with ARISTA’s need to mold him into your mom’s favorite singer. STIGERS left the label and approached music on his own terms. The guy’s knack for taking modern day pop songs and giving them the jazz treatment was first realized through his interpretation of NICK LOWE’s (WHAT’S SO FUNNY ‘BOUT) PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING which was featured on THE BODYGUARD SOUNDTRACK back in 1992. During his tenure with the CONCORD JAZZ LABEL, STIGERS has continued with his interpretation of the works of modern singer-songwriters while shining a light on his own original material and on his latest album ‘LOST IN DREAMS’ the mixture of the two is truly a revelation. ‘LOST IN DREAMS’ opens with STIGERS exuding a soulful, RAY CHARLES-like howl on ANNIE LENNOX’s ‘COLD’ and takes the slow-burner to church! His interpretation of JOHN LENNON’s ‘JEALOUS GUY’ is just as stirring and haunting as BRYAN FERRY’s interpretation but STIGERS’ understated wail gives the song a new intensity. The original material - punctuated by STIGERS’ ‘falling in love and losing in love’ lyrical approach – goes hand in hand with his hat-tipping to other writers but manages to get a little humorous with the quasi-tango of ‘YOU’VE GOT THE FEVER’. Back in ’91, it was hard to imagine that the long-haired kid with a buttery voice would’ve eschewed pop sensibility for some creative risk taking, but the risks have paid off. “[I never] expected to be so successful making jazz records.” says STIGERS “I’m able to make a living and play as big a concert as I ever did in Europe as a jazz singer. It’s not an easy job being a jazz singer. The money isn’t nearly as big as being a pop singer but I’ve been able to make a really nice living. The whole thing has been a surprise. I was surprised to get a record deal and go from being a pizza eating, barely surviving, ride the subway to work musician to being on the TONIGHT SHOW and playing DODGER’S STADIUM and SHEA STADIUM. Every day is a new experience and I keep pinching myself to see if I’m really dreaming that I get to make a living playing music.” (READ MORE)