The origin of CURTIS STIGERS’ new album Songs From My Kitchen, Volume 1 goes back to early pandemic days when he sheltered at home with his wife and several dogs. As a means of staying in touch with his fans, Stigers performed 50 streamed live concerts c/o his kitchen in Idaho. The weekly series was dubbed Songs From My Kitchen and featured Curtis playing songs, surrounded by his dogs, who didn’t hesitate to whine or wrestle or bark during a performance.
The freedom of playing solo with only his voice and guitar allowed Curtis to rediscover some of his older material, songs from his albums and songs previously unrecorded, all in an unplugged, impromptu setting. It was also a chance for him to hone his acoustic guitar skills, something he’d always used for songwriting, but not performing. Highlights from Stigers’ 11-track album include the upbeat “Good To Know You” about finding a longlost parent, the heartfelt growing up song “I Have Everything” featuring pianist Larry Goldings (John Mayer, Maceo Parker, John Scofield), and the heartbreaking “Until You Were Gone,” in which Stigers realizes too late that he was in love with a friend who has departed.
Curtis Stigers burst onto the recording scene in 1991 with his eponymously-titled debut album, which sold 1.5 million copies and spawned several self-penned hit singles, including “You’re All That Matters To Me,” “Never Saw A Miracle” and the Top 10 hit “I Wonder Why.” The next year the singer/songwriter/saxophonist recorded Nick Lowe’s “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, And Understanding” for The Bodyguard soundtrack. Stigers recorded two more pop-oriented albums in the 1990s and made guest appearances on several albums, including two by his early musical mentor, the legendary pianist Gene Harris.
