Despite an early dash of pop success with a number of songs including the international hit "I Wonder Why" in 1991, for the last twenty years, most of Curtis Stigers' output has been more in the vein of jazz music and great American standards.
Considering his background, that affinity doesn't come as a surprise. As a kid, Stigers played clarinet and saxophone, and whenlegendary jazz pianist Gene Harris retired to Boise, Idaho and started hosting a weekly jam session, Stigers sat in and started absorbing everything he could.
It was actually Harris who encouraged Stigers to sing, and to make a go of it as a singer and songwriter. Soon after, Stigers moved to New York to follow his dream. His Arista Records debut, which featured his rich voice and soulful combination rock and pop, reached multi-platinum sales.
But Stigers wasn't interested in creating that type of music. So after a follow-up in 1995, Stigers ended up signing with Concord Records, and began a now twenty-year chapter of making jazz-leaning albums.
On This Life, Stigers takes a look back at home favorite songs from years gone by - some his own, some covers.
