On The Download: Spencer Day

Contemporary crooner Spencer Day’s latest release “Vagabond” is an engaging hybrid of jazz, soul and pop sounds. Although this album came out in 2009, I only now just discovered it. Upon first listen, I expected Day to be from the same generation as Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. On “Vagabond” the young singer-songwriter has concocted the perfect blend of classic pop influences infused with his own original material.

Day is himself a real-life “vagabond,” born in Utah, raised in Arizona, and living presently in Los Angeles – having had extended stays in New York and San Francisco along the way. On previous albums, Day borrowed a lot from the Great American Songbook, but “Vagabond” takes him more into the modern spotlight.

The album’s opener, “Til You Come to Me,” is a tale of infatuation and the sleepless nights that can result. “Everybody Knows” is an enchanting account of two people who think they’re keeping their love for each other a secret, when really it’s just the opposite. Day slows things down on “Someday,” anxiously awaiting someone to let their, “soul begin to shine.” The track “Joe” is written about a man who is about to embark into the world, but has a lot of mixed feelings and resentment as baggage.

It’s easy to compare Day’s music to that of Michael Buble or Jamie Cullum, but Day’s knack for emotional storytelling really makes him a gem in this genre. A perfect example of this creativity is “Weeping Willow,” a beautiful, yet gloomy, narrative told from a lonely tree’s perspective.

“Summer” is a charming ode to all the innocent yet magical times that the season brings. On “Maybe (Tuesday Morning)”, Day goes through all the thoughts that a person has on any given day. The stream-of-consciousness-written number has Day pondering everything from “Maybe I’ll Be A Big Success?” to “Maybe the Country Isn’t Free?”

He calls for change on “Better Way,” the uplifting final track on the album that lightly delves into some of today’s pressing societal issues.

Later this summer, on August 15, Day will be taking part in the Smooth Summer Jazz Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, his debut at the iconic venue. He’ll also perform at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theatre in New York City on July 12, 19 and 26, and at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on July 6, 13, and 28.