Alone Together
Mingus, 2022
8/10
A collection of songs penned between 1932 and 2010, Acoustic Lounge place their inimitable percussion across the listen, and this time with more emphasis on synth and vocals via the quintet’s brand of soul and jazz.
The album opens with the adventurous percussion of the title track, where a dreaminess surrounds the expressive singing and soulful brass, and “The Shadow Of Your Smile” follows with cozy horns in the very warm delivery.
At the halfway point, “Happy” benefits much from the agile rhythm of the Pharrell Williams original, while “Time Out Of My Mind” spotlights the proficient piano amid lively percussion and meticulous bass playing
Moving towards the end, the intimate spirt of “Lady Bird” flows with much grace and playfulness that resonates breezy melodies, and the album ends on a very charming interpretation of “What The World Needs Now Is Love”.
Acoustic Lounge consists of Soren Baun (vocals, piano, Fender rhodes), Claus Waidtlow (sax), Jesper Bodilsen (bass), Mikkel Schnettler (percussion), and Michael Hartvig (percussion), and together with guests on horns they put a fresh coat of paint on songs we’ve all heard before, but not quite like this.
Travels well with: Marilyn Scott- The Landscape; Melbreeze- I Love Paris