Boz Scaggs will release a new album, “Detour,” on Oct. 17, marking his first record in seven years.
“Detour” follows the Grammy-nominated “Out of the Blues,” and, like his recent work, will feature interpretations of songs from the past, focusing on personal jazz favorites and selections from the Great American Songbook.
The first advance track from the album is a reworking of “I’ll Be Gone,” originally from Scaggs’ self-titled 1969 LP.
“If I look at myself as a musician over the years, I’d have to consider my primary instrument to be my voice,” Scaggs said in a press release announcing the album. “Early on, I was really influenced by rock ‘n’ roll guys like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, and R&B and soul singers like Marvin Gaye and Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, but there was something about jazz and standards that always fascinated me.”
The project began when Scaggs and pianist Seth Asarnow started recording standards as demos. The sessions later expanded to include bassist Hans Trowsea, drummer Jason Lewis, multi-instrumentalist Jim Cox, violin and viola player Jeremy Cohen, and guitarists Michael Miller and Ashra Weston.
“I had no intention of making a record when I started singing these songs,” Scaggs said. “It was all very casual at first, just an opportunity to explore a style of music I’ve always liked, to get together with a friend and play for the sheer joy of it.”
The track listing for “Detour” is as follows:
1. It’s Raining
2. Angel Eyes
3. Once I Loved
4. The Very Thought of You
5. I’ll Be Long Gone
6. Detour Ahead
7. I Could Have Told You
8. The Meaning of the Blues
9. Tomorrow Night
10. Too Late Now
11. We’ll Be Together Again
