Aerial Views
MMG, 2020
8/10
The esteemed guitarist and composer Todd Mosby takes up some great company here, including Tom Eaton, Sean Harkness and Michael Manning, among others, as he continues his theme surrounding natural elements by focusing on air this time around.
The aptly titled “Gliding” starts the listen with intricate, rhythmic guitar work as Jeff Haynes provides deft percussion alongside soulful soprano from Premik Tubbs, and “Across America” follows with a warm melodic appeal as a violin solo from Charlie Bisharat makes an indelible impression.
Near the middle, “Into Starlight” offers a dreamy approach as hazy synth and gorgeous wordless vocals from Lola Kristine help set the mood, while “Sailing Sylphs” benefits greatly from lap steel, violins and Mosby’s sublime acoustic guitar. “Blue Horizons”, one of the album’s best, then moves at a swifter pace where Tony Levin’s bass and Kristine’s piano prowess help illuminate the soothing jazz climate.
Deeper still, the title track emits a timeless quality amid a much larger vocal presence from Kristine as Bisharat’s emotive violin resonates with timeless beauty, and “Shining Lights” exits the listen upbeat and brisk as firm drumming and the only lyrical singing is met with both Eastern and Western ideas.
Certainly classically influenced and not without New Age nods, Mosby and company mesh wood and strings like few other could on Aerial Views, and taking into account Mosby’s history with Indian sounds, and the fact that Will Ackerman produced the effort, you’re not likely to be disappointed here.
Travels well with: Paul Winter- Light Of The Sun; Igor Kogan- In A Big City