In "Speak Low", Boz Scaggs delivers a richly textured homage to jazz standards, building on his jazz-influenced roots from his days with the Steve Miller Band. Unlike other artists who merely dip into the Great American Songbook, Scaggs offers a deeply personal and thoughtful follow-up to But Beautiful. The album features lesser-known gems like Duke Ellington's "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me" and Chet Baker's "She Was Too Good To Me," each reinterpreted with intricate, cerebral arrangements reminiscent of Gil Evans' 1950s charts. This approach not only showcases Scaggs' vocal prowess but also his ability to infuse these classics with a fresh, contemporary sensibility.
