Crashbox
Alma, 2025
9/10
This 7th album from Monkey House, which is spearheaded by the song writer and producer Don Breithaupt, continues their fusion appeal that uses many contributors, including the core line up of Justin Abedin, Pat Kilbride and Mark Kelso.
The bright horns of “Return Of The Mayfly” opens with fluid drumming and warm guitar that touches on timeless jazz and uses smooth vocals, and “Someplace On Madison” follows with elegance and grace surrounding the cozy sax and emotive singing.
Residing in the middle, “What’s Left Of This World” showcases the frisky bass amid lively keys and plenty of rhythm, while “Smoke’Em If You Got’Em” comes with a hint of grit amid the stylish winds, colorful keys and restrained rhythm section.
Close to the end, the intimate and pretty “Chasing The Muse” touches on soulful ideas from many decades ago, and “Feeling You Breathe” exits with poeticism and a heartfelt demeanor that’s dreamy.
Breithaupt cites this as Monkey House’s best work yet and it’s hard to argue with that, as the modern jazz-pop unfolds with silky melodies, ‘70s nods and an often sunny disposition.
Travels well with: Marc Jordan- Waiting The Sun To Rise; Skip Grasso- Becoming