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I find it fascinating that both Paul Broadnax and myself have CD projects that feature tributes to Joe Williams... His, a total CD tribute... and mine a tribute to one of Joe's signature tunes...''Here's To My Lay'' (which is the title of my project). Paul features the song so beautifully with his effort. Paul has been a vocal jazz icon and jazz piano mainstay in the Boston, (N.E.) area as long as I can remember, (and I've been doing what I do in both small groups and big band settings now for some 50+ yrs.) That said, his formidable and indestructible voice forges on. Broadnax is a true savant and vocal poet in the true tradition of our beloved American Songbook. It's all there... controlled vibrato for emphasis on the feeling for lyrics, timbre, a fully resonant voice, in a word a lovely vocal instrument which he uses to sooth the sensibilities of his listeners. He delivers his songs, (particularly his ballads) with a symphonic and totally artistic imaginative dynamic.
Equally beautiful is his ability to build tension in his songs with a mellow lyrical grace which only impresses us more not only by the attention this gives to the overall effect of the meaning of his vocal release, but also by the attention it gives to the individual and intrinsic essence of the songs he sings. Paul has succeeded over the years in creating a functioning dictionary of complex emotive qualities in his music, with a creative imagination that can transform single emotions into large scale inspiration. Boston and the vocal world can only be considered lucky to have this 'class act' as a standard for those, (including myself) who aspire to such lofty vocal heights.
