Among Friends
Tiger Turn/JS Jazz, 2025
9/10
John Stein brings his guitar to Fay Whiitaker’s lungs and Chris White’s cello for these 11 live tracks captured in Stein’s living room and his office at Berklee.
The cozy spirit of “I Thought About You” opens with Stein’s warm guitar and White’s elegant cello that suit Whittaker’s soulful pipes, and “It Might As Well Be Spring” follows with expressive singing alongside the radiant guitar playing and playfulness.
Halfway through, the romantic mood of “Since I Fell For You” allows for Whitaker’s powerful voice to shine, while “Our Love Will See Us Through” relies on the bowed cello and gentle guitar amid poetic singing.
Close to the end, “Summertime” tugs on the heartstrings via the calm strings, dreamy guitar, and frisky singing that’s got rhythm, and “Switch-A-Roo” exits with Stein’s meticulous and timeless guitar progressions that we could never tire of.
This is Stein’s 20th album, and like everything he’s been a part of, it’s a detailed offering rife with solos, blues nods, jazz bouts and even swing moments and funk, too.
Travels well with: John Stein- Next Gen; Jed Levy- Faces And Places