SAN DIEGO – Following up three successful albums of pop covers and originals, Chris Hassett brings his warm baritone and impeccable interpretive style to twelve standards for his fourth album, Just in Time. Having delighted local Southern California audiences with live performances since the 1980s, Hassett began his recording projects just four years ago and has kept up a strong pace producing nearly an album each year. This latest effort, his own take on twelve songs from the American Songbook, is sure to expand his fan base.
As with Hassett’s first three albums, Drew Massicot is on board to act as chief musical collaborator and co-arranger, but this marks the first project that brings in multiple musicians to accompany Hassett in crafting the right sound for this breakthrough album. Although Drew accompanies Hassett on two notable tracks – the Rodgers and Hart classic, “I Could Write a Book” and Sondheim’s “Not While I’m Around” – on the other ten tracks, Massicot acts as arranger and co-producer, allowing for more variety in sound textures and ultimately a sophisticated, polished album the listener would expect to have come out of L.A. or New York.
Joining Hassett on Just in Time are some of San Diego’s top jazz musicians. Barnaby Finch (piano), Duncan Moore (drums) and Gunnar Biggs (bass) provide solid accompaniment and sparkling solos on six tracks. Peter Sprague recorded and mixed the six tracks and, on two of them, added his own signature guitar work. The result is a fresh, multi-layered take on some favorite standards that hold their own against versions by popular singers through the decades. The title track, “Just in Time,” starts off the album with a strong, upbeat message and the other tracks from the jazz ensemble punctuate the album right through to the end. “The Gentle Rain” and “The Nearness of You” confirm Hassett’s mastery of tenderly delivered songs, while other tracks like “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “Beyond the Sea” establish his credentials as a gutsy and intelligent jazz crooner.
On four additional tracks, Danny Green – a sparkling piano talent in the San Diego jazz community, especially notable for his keyboard inventiveness – joins Hassett and the results reveal both artists at their best. “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” shows off Hassett’s deep register and his nuanced yet constrained approach to lyric interpretation. On Chaplin’s “Smile,” Green artfully deconstructs the rhythm and phrasing to create a fresh foundation for Hassett’s soulful rendition of this bitter sweet classic.
All in all, this album presents Chris Hassett in a new light for many of his fans – as a world-class crooner with an intelligent and heartfelt approach to song interpretation. Fans looking forward to a second and third album of standards are likely to have their expectations satisfied, judging by Hassett’s own fondness for the genre and his current pace of album releases. Currently, Hassett has several projects in the works: a follow-up album of standards, a one-man show weaving together his personal story with both narrative and song, and a new collection of original songs.
Hassett has contributed his time and talent to many progressive causes over the years. His “Friends & Lovers” concert series from the ‘80s and ‘90s – and as recently as 2012 with the 25th Anniversary Concert – brought leading, local musicians together to raise money for a variety of non-profits, including AIDS service organizations, medical clinics, shelters, and meal-delivery programs.
As a member of the boomer generation, a gay man, and a life-long, unabashed liberal, Chris Hassett doesn’t claim to be the voice of a generation but he does feel his music – deeply personal and drawn directly from his life experience – will resonate with a lot of people in communities across the country. The third of five boys, Hassett, grew up in a military family and discovered his love of music along with a strong singing voice at a very early age.
Throughout his teen years and adult life, Hassett kept his music alive with occasional performances and collaborations. Now, Hassett has brought singing and songwriting to the very center of his life and livelihood.
Earlier album releases include Bring Love Home (November 2009), December (November 2011), and This I Promise You (May 2012).
