Michael Brecker - Nearness Of You: The Ballad Book (2001)

A fantastic late night album. An all-star group playing all-star tunes:

What's not to like 'bout that? While it's Brecker's album, Herbie Hancock steals the show - no small feat among this crew. Grab the person and beverage of your choice and have a listen after a romantic dinner.

Allmusic gives it ★★★★½ while DownBeat gave it ★★★★. Sounds about right to me.

2 Grammy Awards:

• Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: Michael Brecker for Chan's Song
• Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: James Taylor for Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

Recommended pairings/shuffles:

• Earl Klugh - Late Night Guitar
• Just Passing Through: The Breithaupt Brothers Songbook, Vol. II
• Miles Davis - Acoustic
• Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim - Getz/Gilberto
• Wynton Marsalis - Standard Time, Vol. 5: The Midnight Blues

Billboard, June 23, 2001

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Peak on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart: #5

Tracks:  My favorites are Chan's Song, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Midnight Mood, and Always. But a great listen from track 1 through 11.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.