Blues singers and big bands used to go together like bread and butter, but somewhere along the way the singers must have become superfluous in the minds of the leaders or the public. Nowadays, large ensembles are still happy to play the blues, be they well-known warhorses or obscure gems, but husky-voiced singers are rarely seen delivering a blues sermon with them.

Vocalist-guitarist Roy Gaines remembers this bygone era quite well, since he was part of it. Gaines toured on a bill with Count Basie and Jimmy Rushing, played with Big Mama Thornton, backed Ray Charles, and even appeared on-screen, singing "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)," in Steven Spielberg's award-winning 1985 film, The Color Purple.

With Tuxedo Blues, Gaines takes the music back to this sadly gone time, as he puts his vocals on top of a swinging big band and adds some stirring guitar work into the mix. The dozen tracks here focus on medium-to-slow blues swingers with well-tailored arrangements and some terrific piano work from none other than Joe Sample. While a similar sound runs across many of these tracks, certain moments stand out: the New Orleans-based polyphony at the end of "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)" is one; Leslie Drayton's arrangement of Gaines' "Come Home," with some beautifully rendered harmonies at the top, is another.

As a singer and arranger, Gaines puts the accent on suave elegance, mixing originals with tunes popularized by the likes of Nat King Cole and Louis Jordan. "Route 66," also covered here, is perhaps an unimaginative selection considering how often it's been interpreted. As compensation, the instrumental cover of Michael Jackson's "Rock with You" is easily the album's most unconventional effort. The songs and vocals are more amiable than penetrating, he's certainly less ruffled by "Rats in My Kitchen" than most players would be, but it's a solid collection, impeccably constructed and performed without getting overly slick.