Search - Fred Astaire :: Steppin Out: Astaire Sings

A Bridge Between the 1930's and 1950's

Marco Antonio Abarca | Colorado | 09/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Great American Song Book reached its highest point in the 1950's with Verve's Jazz recordings of the classic American music of the 1930's. All the Jazz greats stepped back twenty years and breathed new life into the works of Irving Berlin, Rogers and Hart and Cole Porter.



"Steppin' Out" is brilliant because it serves as a link between the Broadway and Hollywood Music of the 1930's and the new Jazz interpretations of the 1950's. Many of the songs covered in this album were written for and first performed by Fred Astaire.



Verve had a first rate idea in asking Fred Astaire to work with Oscar Peterson. The arrangements show all the brilliance that Peterson was capable of achieving and Astaire stepped up to the musical challange. The jazz pace and phrasing worked perfectly for Astaire. His voice and delivery had only improved with time. In my opinion, his voice in the 1930's had a tinny quality to it. But by the 1950's he had matured and there is deepness to his voice that works well in a jazz setting.



There can be little argument that Fred Astaire was one of the great dancers of the Twentieth Century. Although not as well respected as a vocalist, this album quite clearly shows that Astaire could do it all."

Absolutely worth a spot in your CD holder.

Eric J. Anderson | 01/24/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fred Astair is best known for his his dancing, but this CD demonstrates that Mr. Astair's singing abilities deserve a second (and third) listen. Anyone who has studied music and or voice can appreciate the demands on the voice that many of these songs command. And just as Astair made his dance routines look effortless, he glides through these tunes with ease. Don't be fooled. His phrasing is inpeccable, his timing supurb. Even more impressive is the fact that these songs were recorded with little or no rehearsal. The artist was reaching for a relaxed and fun feel on this album. He certainly achieved it. From the first infectious notes of "Stepping Out With My Baby" you find yourself dreaming of a world of martinis, big bands and nightclubs with cigarette girls. It also helps to have some of the best jazz musicians around at the time to back you up. If you are just getting into old standards and jazz, this is a great introduction to them both. Great cocktail party music to boot! The only reason it got four stars instead of five is because one of Fred's all-time best songs "Isn't It a Lovely Day" is missing from this album. But, of course, nothing is stopping me from ordering another Fred Astair album. And I think I will..."

At the top of his game - incredible

Eric J. Anderson | Ankeny, Iowa | 12/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you want to see Fred Astaire dance, watch the movies. If you want to hear him sing -- this album (or the much pricier "The Astaire Story" 2-disc set from which these songs were selected) gives Fred the chance to match his many years of experience on stage and screen with just about the greatest jazz backup band in existence at the time. Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Barney Kessel on guitar, etc. This is an all-star jazz band who give their utmost to back up a singing star they respect, and Astaire, with his inimitable stylism, is obviously "in heaven" because he sings better than I've ever heard him sing. There is a palpable sense of mutual love and joy and respect between the musicians who made this album.To hear it is to love it. Not to knock the big band and orchestra arrangements over which Astaire sang many of these songs in his musical films, but this modest-sized jazz ensemble is obviously more suited to Astaire's singing, in my opinion. It is warm, intimate, and thoroughly enjoyable. Of course, if you like bombast, look elsewhere. If you love subtlety and the highest levels of technical improvisational musicianship, this is it."