Griffin Woodard Group

Completion

Praise Message, 2022

9/10

Listen to Completion

The debut album from the bass clarinet wizard and composer Griffin Woodard, the 11 songs here are autobiographical stories that shaped his life, and thematically surround love, isolation, connection and spirituality and ranges from solo to septet in its delivery.

“Little Angel” starts the listen with stunning vocals from Georgia Heers and Abe Gold’s warm piano in the cautious jazz climate, and “Doxology” follows with Coleman Rose’s soulful soprano saxophone on the atmospheric and dreamy demeanor.

“Bridget’s Song” arrives in the middle and showcases fascinating finger acrobatics from Abe Gold on the piano focused display, while “Marmalade” meshes brass, keys and sublime singing in the poetic landscape.

“Kyrie” and the title track exit the listen, where the former benefits much from Miles Gilbert’s plucked bass amid the high notes that Heers hits, and the latter spotlights Woodard’s intimate clarinet and is textured with a lush quality that also highlights Hugh Kline’s skilled drumming.

A listen that’s very spiritual at its core, each member brings their respective strengths to these diverse and timeless variations of jazz that you’ll want to hear repeatedly.

Travels well with: Connie Han- Secrets Of Inanna; Ron Carter- Skyline

Cheryl Richards Quintet

Another Spring

New Artists, 2022

8/10

Listen to Another Spring

The jazz vocalist Cheryl Richards is joined by Nick Lyons (alto sax), Adam Caine (guitar), Adam Lane (bass) and Vijay Anderson (drums) for these very spirited interpretations that breathe new life into old songs.

“The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)” starts the listen with Richards’ animated pipes being complemented by playful bass, and “Love Me Or Leave Me” follows with frisky drumming that is met with diverse singing that embraces plenty of rhythm.

In the middle, “It’s You Or No One” showcases the soulful sax amid charming vocal acrobatics, while “Love You Madly” finds a romantic place to reside with its infectious energy and timeless jazz appeal.

Further on, “More Than You Know” is quite intimate and flows with a very soulful demeanor, and “Cheryl” exits the listen with charming scatting and some free jazz exploration that’s as exciting as it is unpredictable.

An album that’s not short on melodies and full of inviting and expressive singing, Richards and company swing with the best of them and also find calm moments on this excellent listen.

Travels well with: Vanessa Racci- Jazzy Italian; Marilyn Scott- The Landscape

Triggers & Slips

What Do You Feed Your Darkness

Self-Released, 2022

9/10

Listen to What Do You Feed Your Darkness

The Salt Lake City country outfit Triggers & Slips return with an album that thematically surrounds loss, love and substance abuse, and their twangy, honky tonk ways certainly add much to the cautious spirit.

“Family Vs Business” starts the listen with plenty of raw melody, where poetic storytelling unfolds with much beauty in the country filled landscape, and “True Love” follows with a stirring intimacy that makes great use of aching pedal steel amid the rugged prettiness.

At the halfway point, “Going Nowhere” flows with a rural warmth, where the instrumentation builds into a lush climate, while “Done With Debbie” recruits harmonica and brushed percussion that’s quirky in all the right ways.

Deeper still, “Future Variations” is heavy on atmosphere in a surreal fashion that’s quite mesmerizing, and the title track exits the listen with graceful acoustic guitar and eloquent wordplay that emits an absorbing singer-songwriter appeal.

Perhaps their most mature effort to date, front man Morgan Snow sorts through his own personal demons across the 10 tracks, as Triggers & Slips again prove just why they’re one of the most interesting bands in the area of roots music that exists today.

Travels well with: Will Payne Harrison- Titan Tioga; Derek Hoke- Electric Mountain

Bryce Ernest Taylor

Man With The Muse

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Man With The Muse

A well thought out listen that examines the beauty and sometimes problematic aspects of life, Bryce Ernest Taylor brings us a vocally strong listen that’s full of rich song craft that welcomes many players on strings.

“Black Dog” starts the listen with Taylor’s warm banjo and expressive singing in the bluegrass flavored landscape, and “What Happens To The Music” follows with Matthew Liversedge’s graceful cello helping cultivate a very stirring delivery.

In the middle, “Kickin’ Off Our Shoes” is a more upbeat and playful display of timeless folk qualities, where the intricate finger picking recruits Kels Cordaré on cello and violin to complement Taylor’s radiant mandolin, while “Naturally You” showcases Jonathan New’s strategic upright bass amid the themes of nature in the bouncy album highlight.

Close to the end, “Water” offers a reflective demeanor with Taylor Shuck’s banjo alongside soothing vocal harmonies, and “Isle Of Skye” exits with a Celtic appeal that’s armed with Seth Murphy’s cello to accent the dreaminess of the textured finish.

A very collaborative affair that embraces Americana, folk and bluegrass ideas into a progressive formula, Taylor and company make for a highly mature, unpredictable and universally enjoyable 11 tunes.

Travels well with: Jared Rabin- Chasing The Light; James Keelaghan- Second-Hand

Amjad Ali Khan/Wu Man

Music For Hope

Zoho, 2022

8/10

Listen to Music For Hope

The sarod playing family of Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash are in the company of the Chinese pipa soloist Wu Man and the percussionist Shane Shanahan for these cultured, diverse and harmonic 5 pieces.

“Stream Of Love” starts the listen with the pipa and a pair of sarods interacting with much beauty and warmth, where improvisations of Indian and Chinese yield slow rhythms, and “Rhythm Of Life” follows with the drums accompanying the fluid Raga Durga that meshes the strings with percussive sounds.

“Beyond Borders” arrives at the halfway point, and it has the sarod and pipa working in the South Indian Raga Vachaspati, where a seven-note scale is utilized with a fascinating precision, while “Maya” brings back the drums for an even more exploratory, rhythmic expanse of Raga Vachaspati.

“Of Tradition And Heritage”, the best track, exits the listen, and it presents feral harmonies and Raga Zila Kafi sounds which uses sharpened or flattened versions of notes via a seven-note scale.

Both Shanahan and Wu Man are founding members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad project, and together with the sarod masters they help create a worldly, distinctly harmonic and very fascinating body of work.

Travels well with: Katayoun Goudarzi/Shujaat Husain Khan- This Pale; Sarah Aroeste- Monastir

Izzy And The Black Trees

Revolution Comes In Waves

Antena Krzyku, 2022

10/10

Listen to Revolution Comes In Waves

The Polish outfit Izzy And The Black Trees return with a sophomore record, and it’s a post-pandemic punk affair that has Izabela Izzy Rekowska (vocals), Mariusz Dojs (guitar), Lukasz Mazurowski (bass) and Mateusz Pawlukiewicz (drums) in fine form.

“I Can’t Breathe” starts the listen with a firm and buzzing display of thumping alt-rock that’s hard hitting yet memorable, and “Liberate” follows with bouncy bass lines amid the scrappy drumming and expressive singing as the outfit enter a very dynamic version of indie-rock.

“Break Into My Body” arrives at the halfway point and touches on dream-rock with its hazy textures that swirl with power and melody, while “Petty Crimes” takes nods at post-punk with its mesmerizing moments and darker appeal.

Close to the end, “Love’s In Crisis” finds a soulful place to reside, where Izzy’s poetic wordplay is met with a cathartic delivery that builds into a thick landscape, and “Candy” exits the listen with a dense burst of frenzied punk rock for 36 seconds you won’t soon forget.

The quartet cover a lot of political and social ground here, from topics all over the globe, and the noisy yet calculated and poetic but rebellious formula strikes in a way that might remind you of Patti Smith or Siouxsie Sioux, i.e. it’s brilliant.

Travels well with: you.Guru- Young Adult Fiction; Izzy And The Black Trees- Trust No One

Modern Lovers

‘Live’

Omnivore, 2022

8/10

Listen to ‘Live’

The first live release from Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers, these 9 tracks were recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon in England, and feature some of the best tracks from their first 2 releases, which are played to a very receptive crowd.

“I’m A Little Airplane” starts the listen with Richman’s scrappy and playful rock’n’roll that makes for an instant sing-along, and “Hey There Little Insect” follows with Richman’s conversational singing complemented by Asa Brebner’s frisky bass lines.

In the middle, the classic “Ice Cream Man” unfolds over 8 minutes of adventurous and warm song craft that benefits much from D. Sharpe’s skilled drums, while “My Little Kookenhaken” is a breezy and spirited display of charming guitars and Richman’s inimitable singing.

“New England” and “The Morning Of Our Lives” exit the set, where the former showcases soulful backing vocals in the laid back, highlight tune, and the latter is charming, upbeat and packed with Richman’s minimal and memorable songwriting.

At this point in his career, Richman was making waves across the pond, and this recording captures his alluring performing abilities that are still very much intact. Available on CD and LP, with color variants, this one is considered another important piece of his vast catalog, and for good reason.

Travels well with: Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers- Back In Your Life; Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers- Rock’N’Roll With The Modern Lovers

Esbe

Blow The Wind Southerly

New Cat, 2023

8/10

Listen to Blow The Wind Southerly

The inestimable vocalist Esbe ventures into folk territory on this 8th studio album, where layers of vocal harmonies are present and appreciated across a Christmas Carol and a couple of Nursery Rhymes, too.

“Summer Is Icumen In” opens the listen with bright and dreamy harmonizing, where a timeless folk quality is emitted, and the title track follows with a very spiritual appeal that benefits much from poetic and pretty song craft.

At the midpoint, “Scarborough Fair” showcases stunning vocal prowess that resonates a very stirring climate, while “Three Blind Mice” layers the vocals playfully in a mesmerizing fashion that’s a bit hypnotic.

Deeper on the back half, “Go Tell Aunt Nancy” is an eloquent and expressive album highlight that’s got a lot of soul to it, too, and “Coventry Carol” exits with the sounds of a bell amid a darker presence that’a bit hazy in its creative nature.

Esbe makes each of these tracks her own, and interprets them with choral dynamics that manipulate tone and mood, and brings field recordings to the a capella experience that’s quite absorbing.

Travels well with: La Típica Folklórica- La Diablera; Vigüela- A la manera artesana

Leo Brouwer/Mariel Mayz

Cuban Sketches For Piano

Zoho, 2022

8/10

Listen to Cuban Sketches For Piano

The esteemed Cuban composer Leo Brouwer and the inimitable pianist Mariel Mayz come together for a piano solo affair of compositions penned between 1961 and 2021.

The first 10 tracks are Brouwer’s “Diez Bocetos”, where Mayz’s sublime playing ranges from bare and pretty to quick and unpredictable, where you’re as likely to hear bouncy, rumbling bursts just as you are graceful intimacy.

In the middle, the elegant “Variations On A Theme By Brouwer” has Mayz handing composer duties and embracing rhythmic patterns and sometimes more jarring tonalities, while “Nuevos Bocetos Para Piano III” unfolds across 3 movements of animated passages that emit flowing melodic gestures.

The final track, “An Idea (Passacalgia For Eli)”, exits with an absorbing delivery that pays tribute to the Canadian guitarist Eli Kassner on his 75th birthday, and truly captures the depths of Mayz’s abilities.

Although we’re used to hearing Brouwer’s work on 6 strings, here they translate well to 88 keys, and in Mayz’s very capable hands the pieces are illuminated with tremendous poise, warmth and a talent that few will ever replicate.

Travels well with: Kaeshammer- The Warehouse Sessions; Craig Davis- Tone Paintings

Kabuki Dream

Abstract

Veidt, 2022

8/10

Listen to Abstract

A colorful and certainly abstract Italian duo, Jacopo Gabanini and Francesco Bartoli. i.e. Kabuki Dream, make for very interesting electro-synthwave sounds across these 14 tracks.

The title track starts the listen with firm, rapid fire percussive sounds, before spacey blips and beeps enter the atmospheric landscape that uses dreamy, wordless vocals as well as soundbites for the textured climate, and “Timeless” follows with soothing strings and adventurous electronica meeting at a very creative intersection.

Elsewhere, “Nebula” is a bit more ominous, as a dense, cinematic quality unfolds, while “Star Bridge” heads right into sci-fi territory amid its eerie backdrop of exploratory drumming noises.

Deeper on the back half, “WMMW” makes great use of bright synth as it presents a dance floor ready version of electro-pop that uses a drum machine in fascinating ways, and “Away” exits the listen with a glorious tone, where subtle vocals and a surreal demeanor make for a radiant finish.

The pair make quite an impression with this sophomore album, where piano loops and electric guitar are also part of their formula that might remind you of the Chemical Brothers or Daft Punk, and is quite futuristic, danceable, and even prog-friendly during its elaborate duration.

Travels well with: Almeeva- To All My Friends; Benjamin Schoos- Doubt In My Heart

Velcro Dog

Misanthropology

Westergaard, 2022

9/10

Listen to Misanthropology

The solo moniker of the Norwegian songwriter Tony Gonzalez, as Velcro Dog the artist brings a darkness to his folk songs that move at a slow pace and are all acoustic based.

“Belated Birthday Blues” opens the listen with warm acoustic guitar alongside the ominous storytelling that’s a contrast to the pretty song craft, and “Cone Of Shame” follows with a more musically upbeat affair that’s paired with expressive, poetic singing.

At the halfway point, “Shave A Pig, Call It A Ham” is particularly intimate, with a very raw introspection, while “Reader’s Block”, the best tune, is quite stirring in its dreamy delivery that’s lyrically heartbreaking.

“Fly Worry” and “A Nice Place For An Ambush” exit the listen, where the former is gentle, pretty even, with a hint of percussion, and the latter displays very cozy strumming amid Gonzalez’s vivid storytelling that’s forthright and vulnerable.

It’s not hard to think of legends like Elliott Smith or Jason Molina when listening to these 10 personal songs, where themes of loss, love and depression are fleshed out with an honest sparseness. Gonzalez has an impressive resume playing in band’s like Barren Womb, Oma Desala, Twin Serpent, and Dårli Te Beins, but this solo reord just might be his best work to date.

Travels well with: Jason Molina- Eight Gates; Damien Jurado- In The Shape Of A Storm

Ghoster

Sombre Crame

ATYPEEK, 2022

8/10

Listen to Sombre Crame

A French outfit comprised of Ben and Greg, as Ghoster the pair birth a very exciting brand of post-punk meets techno meets house sounds across these 4 unpredictable tracks.

“Crame 1” one starts with a firm beat, as plenty of playful buzzing enters the sci-fi friendly landscape that could certainly soundtrack a late night at the club, and “Crame 2” follows with skilled percussive sounds, where plenty of atmosphere and post-punk nods meets electro-pop moments that make for a very energetic EP highlight.

The back half contains “Crame 3” and “Crame 4”, where the former is a bit cautious amid its mysterious, cinematic qualities, while the latter mesmerizes us with its swirling techno prowess.

Ghoster’s roots began as a meeting at a party- many parties, actually- and their music is certainly tailor made for that environment, where plenty of dance floor ready moments are quite creative and lively.

Travels well with: Princess Thailand- And We Shine; VvvV- The Wreck

Yarn/Wire

Andrew McIntosh: Little Jimmy

Kairos, 2022

8/10

Listen to Andrew McIntosh: Little Jimmy

Yarn/Wire, a New York based percussion and piano quartet, return with a piece by the composer Andrew McIntosh written for them, as well as a pair of solo McIntosh pieces.

“I Have A Lot To Learn” starts the listen with bare and impactful piano performed by Laura Barger, where space and tension are utilized with a very precise attention to tonality and mood.

“Learning” lands in the middle, and is quite atypical, where field recordings taken at Rosenita Saddle in Angeles National Forest, commissioned by Russell Greenberg of Yarn/Wire, are met with vibraphone and glockenspiel meshed with the sound of birds.

The title track exits the listen, and it features 2 pianos and 2 percussionists that can drone with an absorbing quality, just as it can get eerie with repetition. Deeper into the track, the setting is quite minimal, ominous even, with a very striking manipulation of sound.

An album that examines the relationship between humans and nature with a very avant-garde vision that incorporates acoustic, electronic, and recorded sounds, Laura Barger (piano), Julia Den Boer (piano), Russell Greenberg (percussion), and Sae Hashimoto (percussion), i.e. Yarn/Wire, make the most of every creative second on this unique listen.

Travels well with: Carlos Simon- Requiem For The Enslaved; Lorelei Ensemble- Antigone

Rich Willey

Puttin’ On The Ritz

Boptism, 2022

8/10

Listen to Puttin’ On The Ritz

Rich Willey is a talented guy, and here the multi-instrumentalist arranges 4 horns to flesh out some really playful jazz interpretations of several standards that welcome a group of all-star Chicago rhythm players.

“Poor Butterfly” starts the listen with playful drumming and soulful horns, as Paul Mutzabaugh’s warm piano solo impresses us, and “If I Should Lose You” follows with elegant strings complementing Willey’s fluid trumpet solo in the cautious yet adventurous climate.

“My Melancholy Baby” lands in the middle, and it comes with a breezy, cozy demeanor of brass and strings meshing with melody, while “Song For Janet”, the album’s best, has Willey playing a couple different trumpets amid Mutzabaugh’s very precise keys.

Closer to the end, “Sweet Lorraine” is indeed easy on the ears with its strong attention to detail and flowing song craft, and the full version of “Holy Trinity” exits with solos from David Mann’s soprano sax and Andrew Synowiec’s guitar for the fusion friendly and dynamic finish.

Of the 3 originals, Willey’s well cemented spiritual beliefs are present, and represent his unique and timeless vision of jazz and improvisation that makes for another excellent body of work.

Travels well with: Jim Dedrick- Findings; Wayne Alpern- The Shape Of Strings

Vanessa Racci

Jazzy Italian

Zoho, 2022

8/10

Listen to Jazzy Italian

Although she grew up in New York, the jazz singer Vanessa Racci has familial roots in Italy, and her upbringing in that culture certainly influences the brassy, dramatic and swing friendly sounds of this sophomore album.

“Betcha/Getcha” starts the listen with Mark Lewandowski’s playfully plucked bass and Racci’s frisky scatting, as Glafkos Kontemeniotis’ piano enters the warm and charming climate, and “Volare” follows with a very pretty and cultured delivery, where Racci sings in italian alongside Danny Conga Valdez’s agile congas and Sam Dillon’s bright sax.

“Make Love To Me” lands in the middle and emits a very romantic spirit that benefits from soulful brass and Racci’s diverse pipes, while “I’m A Fool To Want You” is quite intimate, and showcases so much beauty from Racci’s stirring voice.

Deeper still, “September In The Rain” is quite stylish, and blends the soothing vocals with light drumming from Charles Goold amid the meticulous finger acrobatics on piano, and the aptly titled “At Last” exits with a fuller demeanor that’s steeped in a timeless jazz appeal where Racci’s voice soars high.

A great mix of originals and intepretations, Racci, along with the arrangers Steven Feifke and Kontemeniotis, make for a harmonic, creative and fusion filled listen that we won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: Diana Panton- Solstice/Summer; Aimée Allen- Love & The Catalyst

Barrett Davis

The Ballad Of Aesop Fin

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to The Ballad Of Aesop Fin

The western North Carolina singer-songwriter and guitarist Barrett Davis brings the influences of his rural upbringing and musical family to these 8 sincere and very accomplished songs, where contributions from Woody Platt (vocals), JT Linville (double bass), Derrick Gardner (piano/organ), Owen Grooms (banjo/electric banjo), Jackson Dulaney (dobro/pedal steel/lap steel), Ryan Sargent (percussion/drums), Noah Gardner (fiddle/cello) and Johanna Davis (vocals) won’t go unnoticed.

“Highway 64” starts the listen with a rich, indie-folk sound that uses warm guitar and expressive singing in its rural energy, and “Carolina Still” follows with a more upbeat appeal that’s got some bluegrass tendencies amid the cautious climate.

“Oh Sleeper” lands in the middle, and is a dreamy, bare album highlight that showcases a very intimate beauty, while “Bama Shores” shimmers with a glowing, country friendly presence that’s both stirring and adventurous.

The final 2 selections, “Lazarus” and the title track, don’t disappoint either, where the former recruits gentle folk harmonies and aching pedal steel for the sublime delivery, and the latter brings Americana, bluegrass, country and folk into a lush and timeless exit.

Davis took a lengthy break from music to start his family and run a business, and here he takes his past experience in the outfits Foxfire and the more recent Pretty Little Goat, and pens a very honest body of work that is full of soft melodies that might just remind you of the first time you heard Iron & Wine, which could never be a bad thing.

Travels well with: Michael Paul Lawson- Love Songs For Loners; Derek Hoke- Electric Mountain

Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers

Back In Your Life

Omnivore, 2022

8/10

Listen to Back In Your Life

The 3rd album from Richman and company, Back In Your Life was originally released in 1979, and has the outfit moving into more experimental avenues.

“Abdul And Cleopatra” starts the listen with crisp drums and warm guitar, as Richman’s inimitable drawl is met with soulful backing vocals, and “(She’s Gonna) Respect Me” follows with a bit of talking before the meticulous acoustic guitar strums playfully.

Further into the listen, “Buzz Buzz Buzz” enters children’s music territory that’s cute and infectious, while “Party In The Woods Tonight” certainly brings a festive spirit to the melodic guitar and Richman’s distinct singing that you can’t not sing along to.

Making our way towards the end, “Emaline” unfolds like a lullaby in its soothing, nearly gospel presence, and “I Hear You Calling Me” exits with a bare, intimate delivery of singer-songwriter prowess that again proves that Richman doesn’t exactly need a backing band, although we do appreciate Leroy Radcliffe, D.Sharpe and Asa Brebner’s contributions.

This is 1 of 4 of Richman’s classic albums that Omnivore has reissued recently, and this installment arrives near the end of his time with the Beserkley label. Only half the tracks recruit The Modern Lovers, and it features some of his most known songs that have aged quite well.

Travels well with: Alex Chilton And Hi Rhythm Section- Boogie Shoes: Live On Beale Street; Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers- Rock’N’Roll With The Modern Lovers

René Lussier

Au Diable Vert

Circum Disc, 2022

8/10

Listen to Au Diable Vert

The guitarist, bassist and percussionist René Lussier brings some different noise makers to the guitar quintet, and it makes for an improvisational experience where each track finds its own unique place to reside.

“13e Séance” opens the listen with crisp drums, diverse guitar playing and trombone from Alain Trudel, as both calm and furious bouts make for an exciting climate, and “Western o Pode” follows with a very thick, cinematic quality that is quite mysterious yet soulful.

“Barré” arrives in the middle, and benefits from scattered voices thanks to Koichi Makigami amid Luzio Altobelli’s cozy accordion, while “Dindon Assassin” rumbles with a unique charm that also recruits dreamy marimba into the album’s best.

Approaching the end, “Cinq Accords Pour Takashi” is a bit hazy and benefits from Takashi Harada’s Ondes Martenot in the minimalistic demeanor, and “Dans Tentaculaire” exits with a very full and artistic, nearly carnival-esque presence that spotlights Robbie Kuster’s drumming and Chris Culter’s voice.

A record that used digital correspondence for the early stages before entering a studio, Lussier’s adventurous vision and esteemed help make for an unclassifiable and fascinating experience.

Travels well with: TOC- Did It Again; Adoct- Ouvre-Glace

Kate Baker & Vic Juris

Return To Shore

Strikezone, 2022

8/10

Listen to Return To Shore

The esteemed vocalist Kate Baker and her late husband and guitarist Vic Juris document a stirring love story with these 10 songs, where both originals and covers unfold with inimitable guitar playing and expressive singing.

“God Only Knows” starts the listen with Juris’ warm guitar complementing Baker’s poetic, stirring voice in the spiritual climate, and the title track follows with some vocal scatting amid the spirited guitar, as the setting gets a bit playful in nature.

“The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” arrives at the halfway point, and radiates much beauty with complicated playing from Juris alongside the soulful singing, while “Madalena” illustrates incredible guitar prowess, and Baker’s diverse pipes certainly impress, too.

Approaching the end, “Blackberry Winter” is a bare, dreamy display of profoundly pretty song craft, and “Are You Kind” exits with Baker’s stunning delivery and Juris’ distinct playing that meshes with jazz sensibilities that will always be relevant.

A very tender and introspective listen, Juris and Baker’s chemistry is undeniable, and the energy they put forth will forever be relevant to the human experience, as Return To Shore captures the duo’s only recorded album together the final, touching work from Juris.

Travels well with: Melissa Stylianou- Dream Dancing; Craig Davis- Tone Paintings

Terrence Wintersmith

A Walk In The Woods

Addictive 2 Music, 2019

8/10

Listen to A Walk In The Woods

in an esteemed career that’s lasted over 40 years, Terrence Wintersmith has been nothing if not diverse. With A Walk In The Woods, the veteran musician wrote and produced all the tunes with 20 musicians on hand to help flesh out these meticulous tracks.

The title track starts the listen with lively flute amid an upbeat and expressive landscape where violins and horns flow alongside Wintersmith’s piano and synth prowess, and “Ridgetop” follows with soft flugelhorn and pop influences in the pretty landscape.

Further along, “Jumping And Jiving” finds a warm place to reside alongside keys and sax, as a trio of vocals arrive from Wintersmith as well as Patricia Lee and David E. Greene, while “A Vido Que Eu Sonhei” recruits Latin influences into the gorgeous singing from Jessica Jeza Vauter. “Amalfi” ends the listen soothing and meditative, as flutes and Wintersmith’s piano skills guide the closer.

Wintersmith has an all star cast with him here, including members of The Dave Matthews Band and Michael Buble’s band, and together they fuel these eclectic jazz tunes quite well and with a quality we’ve come to expect from Wintersmith since the ‘70s.

Travels well with: Fleur Seule- Standards And Sweet Things; Acute Inflections- Electric Psychology