Return To Shore
Strikezone, 2022
8/10
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