Please Leave Your Light On
Gawd Aggie/Cooking Vinyl, 2020
8/10
Listen to Please Leave Your Light On
An all star collaboration takes place here, where Australian legend Paul Kelly is aligned with fellow Aussie and esteemed jazz pianist and composer Paul Grabowsky to rework 9 tunes from Kelly’s back catalog, as well as offer a new tune and a sublime cover.
“True To You”, a track that hasn’t been used until now, starts the listen with bare keys, as smooth, expressive vocals enter the vintage jazz setting, and “Petrichor” continues the elegant landscape with a poetic touch to the warm atmosphere.
Halfway through, “Young Lovers” gets playful with acrobatic keys and a strong vocal presence that includes spoken word, while the romantic Cole Porter tune, “Every Time We Say Goodbye”, tugs on the heartstrings in its intimate execution. “You Can’t Put Your Shoes Under My Bed”, the album highlight, then recruits harmonica for an emotive and captivating adventure.
Near the end, “God’s Grandeur” is a sparse and darker shift into almost haunting territory, and “If I Could Start Today Again” exits the listen with no shortage of melody on the gorgeous finish to the engaging effort.
It’s hard not to think of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra or Bill Evans when listening to Please Leave Your Light On, which could never be a bad thing, as these heartfelt and very carefully crafted tunes illustrate the immense talent from both of the luminaries in a moving, timeless fashion.
Travels well with: Paul Kelly- Nature; Joe Jackson- The Duke