Personnel: Nathan Gunn (vocals); Eldar (piano); Marco Panascia (upright bass); Todd Strait (drums).
Although baritone Nathan Gunn is best known for his stirring work in the opera, his first solo album is anything but classical. Instead, JUST BEFORE SUNRISE is a collection of contemporary pop songs, featuring tunes by Tom Waits, Billy Joel, and Sting, alongside a standard or two. Although Gunn's rich, resonant voice seems slightly out of place in a pop context, the album, which is characterized by intimate, jazzy arrangements, is effortlessly enjoyable, and should appeal to followers of Gunn's romantic operatic work as well as contemporary vocal and easy listening fans. minimize