I'm writing this blog entry to laud the praises and talents of an amazing jazz musician. No, I'm not speaking of Buddy Rich, Glenn Miller or even Louis Armstrong. I'm speaking of Seth MacFarlane. I know what you're thinking: "Isn't he the guy who created and voices characters on that crude cartoon comedy Family Guy?" You would be correct. But I'm here to assure you that he is so much more. Yes, MacFarlane is a voice-actor, animator, screenwriter, and whatever the heck else Wikipedia claims he is. But his musical prowess is what compels me to write this. Through a series of informational searches (i.e.- surfin' the web), I stumbled on his big band album, Music is Better Than Words. And purchased it on iTunes. And loved it. The album is more than Seth singing Sinatra-ish arranged tunes of old, (some) slightly obscure standards. It's an ode to a simpler and swingin' time when a party that served alcohol was called a 'cocktail party', and "Honey, I'm home" was a common phrase in the American household. Armed with conductor Joel McNeely (go ahead: google him), "The Frank" (the Neuman U47 mic that Sinatra often used), and the most awesomingly-assembled orchestra (lead trumpet = Wayne Bergeron, drums = Peter Erskine...need I say more?), Mr. MacFarlane sings his way easily through these tunes like he was born to do just that. His vocal control, dead-on pitch and interpretation (and emulation) is uncanny for a man known to the general public as the voice of Peter Griffin (a fat slob), Quagmire (a womanizer), Brian Griffin (a doggie drunk), and Stewie (an infant bent on world domination). Music is Better Than Words destroys all those stereotypical thoughts you may have had about MacFarlane and presents us with a mature, versatile jazz musician who approaches music seriously. I hope I've piqued your curiosity to check out his album. And kudos and thanks to you, Seth, for giving us an album containing pure "crooner jazz" in a time where this type of music is few and far between.
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