Detour

Released in late 2025, Detour represents a significant stylistic pivot for Boz Scaggs, moving fully into the realm of traditional vocal jazz and the Great American Songbook. While Scaggs has touched on these influences throughout his career, Detour strips away the R&B polish of his 'Silk Degrees' era in favor of a raw, minimalist aesthetic. The album features a mix of classic standards like 'Angel Eyes' and 'The Very Thought of You' alongside a re-imagining of his own 'I’ll Be Long Gone.' Recorded with a focus on live-in-studio intimacy, the production emphasizes the natural texture of his aging voice, which has acquired a rich, gravelly patina. Critically, the album aligns Scaggs with the late-career 'standards' tradition of artists like Willie Nelson or Chet Baker, prioritizing emotional honesty over vocal gymnastics. It stands as a stark, beautiful outlier in his discography.