Figments

It's true, you can go wherever you wish with a mind-boggling 88 keys when you're going it alone. And so it is that Anschell takes us on an intriguing journey of creativity on this solo album. He begins the proceedings with a very different take on "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." I'd think that Cole Porter would have dug it! Next comes Cahn-Van Heusen's gorgeous "All My Tomorrows," a tune seemingly being rediscovered decades after it was written. Rodgers and Hart's "It Never Entered My Mind" is given an impressionistic bent, and "Willow Weep For Me," slightly altered rhythmically, is impressive. Other standards include a totally redecorated "Honeysuckle Rose" and a near-stride outing on "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." The remainder of the CD is devoted to pop hits from years past, such as "Alice's Restaurant" and others of that ilk. It probably will never sound as good as it does here, but why include it when there are zillions of examples of superior writing out there? Overall, however, Anschell gets a thumbs up for creativity on these rather outside interpretations.