The Café Carlyle Sessions

Every song on this album has a unique arrangement that gives new life the compositions. The interpretations are fresh and streamlined for a small jazz club setting. I would like to see another release like this, covering some of his other songs. Great stuff...

Cool spin on his hits! I like it a lot!

We were sitting at the bar of the Sirenuse Hotel in Capri, Italy and the DJ played an acoutic version of Sailing. We were watching an incredible Amalfi sunset and thinking that life could not be much better when this song was played. The album is that good...it is a testament to an artist that he can sound this good "unplugged". A wonderful album...really sorry we did not have the chance to see him in NYC.

Props to the Jimmy Fallon show for opening up to some catchy tunes from Christopher Cross. Always helps The Roots are rocking out with him too.

Wow, I just saw him jam "ride like the wind" on the Jimmy Fallon show and it was AWESOME!!! Michael McDonald came out and backed him on piano.CC can really get down on the guitar as well.

This is a wonderful album, such a treat compared to most contemporary pop. The singing is musical with good vocal technique and the melodies are gorgeous. These songs have a lightly jazzed up, cabaret style. The musicians all nail the music, Chrisopher is in fine voice, and the arrangements are beautiful. The arrangement of "Sailing" is achingly beautiful, better than the original!

Excellent quality recording of some really great songs and memories. Excellent production and players all nail each song. Sounds like Chris is hanging out in your living room--probably the best I have ever heard his voice sound on a recording. Great job!

"The Cafe Carlyle Sessions" finds Christopher Cross in fine form on guitar and voice and the once-lavish Michael Omartian productions on songs like "Sailing," "Ride Like the Wind," "All Right" and "Never Be the Same" stripped down to a simplified - and pleasing - acoustic form. Long-time fans of Cross's music and newcomers who like a light jazz touch on ballads and love songs will enjoy "The Cafe Carlyle Sessions." Highly recommended!

In April of 2008, Christopher Cross was booked into a rare month long appearance at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City... The room, an 88 seat cabaret venue that was the regular gig for the late jazz pianist Bobby Short, was something new for Cross and it created quite a challenge -- To scale down the arrangements of his songs and present them backed only by piano & sax. The experience was such a positive one that Christopher went into the studio in an effort to document the new life these wonderful pop songs were given... The result is THE CAFE CARLYLE SESSIONS. The presentation is simple... Christopher on acoustic guitar, accompanied by Andy Ezrin on piano & David Mann on sax from the original Carlyle engagement. Joining them for this recording are Kevin Axt on bass and CC band veteran Dave Beyer on drums/percussion. The acoustic jazz combo feel brings an honest, pure sound to the project while all the players are encouraged to stretch out on the solos. Christopher's voice has retained it's clear, melodic quality over the years and sounds fantastic. Produced by Chris Walden, the new versions of classics like RIDE LIKE THE WIND, SAILING, ARTHUR'S THEME, NEVER BE THE SAME, THINK OF LAURA & more sound both old and new thru these great new jazz arrangements. Strongly recommended for fans of this music.