#stevesrecordcollection No. 67 Sting - “The Dream of the Blue Turtles” I realize many of you are going to think I've lost my mind here, because Sting has not been cool for at least 3 solid decades. I guess he’s just playing the lute or having tantric sex with his wife or whatever

However, I will absolutely defend this record vigorously, and even some of Sting’s subsequent output. After the Police broke up, he did something really unexpected: he assembled a group of legit young jazz musicians, including Branford Marsalis.

The music is definitely rock/pop, but the band brings some interesting angles to the music. It’s so very Sting of Sting to cover himself. He performed several reworked Police songs on tour with this group, and one of them, “Shadows in the Rain,” is a highlight of this record.

It was a courageous move from the erstwhile frontman of the biggest band in the world. It could have fallen on its face as an insufferably pretentious vanity project, but it works. And if you don’t believe me, you can also check out the great concert film “Bring on the Night.”

My favorite track is “Moon Over Bourbon Street,” which features some particularly nice soprano sax work by Branford Marsalis:

Bonus clip of the group performing "Shadows in the Rain" from the film "Bring on the Night" featuring the incredible Kenny Kirkland on keys: