Official verification of the "soul-jazz miracle" that transpired at Westport Coffee House last November has arrived. The release of Hip to be Square: Plays Huey Lewis & The News, proves that the doubtful act of musical divination was real.
Thanks in large part to the wondrous arrangements of Kansas City organist Chris Hazelton, Cory Weeds’ new album featuring Hazelton, guitarist David Rourke and drummer Rudy Petschauer redeems an absurdly unpromising premise.
The transformation of the gooey 1982 pop hit “Do You Believe in Love” into a riveting ballad is the most stunning revelation, but most of the covers supplant the tackiness of MTV staples like "I Want a New Drug" with the robust swing associated with the Canadian saxophonist Weeds.
Jazz purists who refuse to succumb to pop pleasures can stick to the original material on the back half of the 74-minute album. They’ll be missing out on a lot of fun. It turns out that it is, in fact, hip to be square.