Gloria Reuben & Marty Ashby For All We Know

Gloria Reuben & Marty Ashby
For All We Know
MCG Jazz

Vocalist Reuben and guitarist Ashby have provided us with a delectable album of songs dealing with the beauty, pain, and unexpected twists of love and relationships. Reuben's first album on MCG Jazz, "Perchance to Dream," ended with a duo the hat sparked the present recording. Inspiration was found not merely from the connection they experienced, but also the duet albums by Sammy Davis, Jr. with Mundell Lowe and Laurindo Almeida, and by Ella Fitzgerald with Joe Pass. Reuben has a career as an actress and singer with credits spanning television, film, theater, and concert halls. Among these credits, she sang backup for Tina Turner on tour and received Emmy nominations for her acting on ER. Guitarist Ashby is also the executive producer of MCG Jazz, which he started in 1987.

Listeners will be charmed by Reuben and Ashby's intimate and romantic renditions of the ten songs about love and people. Reuben has a soft, melodious voice, and delivers the lyrics with clarity and a soothing feel. Ashby's accompaniment provides a foundation for her vocals with his mix of chords and single-note runs that also embellish these performances. The songs include such songs as 'Time After Time," "I'll Close My Eyes," "A Time for Love," "I'll Get Along Without You Very Well," and "How High the Moon," and Reuben enchants the listeners with her singing.

While the renditions are straight-forward, the warmth and clarity of her singing backed by Ashby's lean, sympathy backing make for delightful listening. This is a perfect album to listen to while having a candlelight dinner.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the March-April 2020 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 389). Here is Gloria Ruben performing "I'll Close My Eyes."