This recording offers the best male voice that has come along in the States for quite some time.  Michael is definitely comparable to the greatest male singers we have had the opportunity to encounter.  Michael's choice of material is broad.  His authorship on one song is great.  Michael's accompanists are some of the best in the jazz field I have heard.  Michael exudes the styles of Chet Baker, Mel Torme, and James Brown.  His jazz is excellent and his soul-influenced prowess is endearing.  Hats off to you, Michael, for being a fellow TRUE romantic.  You are magnificent.  This CD should be a required purchase for every person who owns a CD player.
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The Only Dream, Michael Winkle, vocals.
Just when you’re sure that the male of the species has virtually disappeared from the realm of quality jazz/pop singing, along comes Michael Winkle to set your mind at ease. Michael’s new CD is a mixed bag of proven standards (“You Make Me Feel So Young,” “Blame It On My Youth,” “Summertime” and perhaps my favorite cut on the album, “If I Only Had A Heart”). But he also covers some pop things from the past in “Fool On The Hill” and “Crazy Love” among others. Certainly an album highlight is his composition, “The Only Dream That Ever Mattered.” It has a contemporary feel and a lyric that tells of one of life’s bitter lessons. Winkle is in excellent company here, singing with established PDX cats like Joe Milward, piano; Scott Steed, bass; Paul Mazzio, trumpet; Renato Caranto, tenor sax; and Jeff Uusitalo, trombone (not every guy on every track). There’s something for just about every taste and preference on this album. Michael Winkle manages to straddle the line between pop and jazz without ever losing his balance. More info can be found at www.michaelwinkle.com.
Self-produced, 2007, 45:37.
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