Moonlight - Steve Cole (ART 7021)
Smooth jazz takes on familiar songs. The arrangements are simple, the playing devoid of useless frills. The session players do a great job and at no time do you feel like the songs are egotistically wrapped around Cole. All the musicians seem to have been given a lot of freedom and the result is a flowing bed of rhythm, melodies and textures. Of particular merit is Russel Ferrante's piano play. Ferrante is his usual perfectly timed self on this album seeting up Cole in such a way that one might think Cole better than he really is. Whatever the case may be, I find this a very enjoyable album for just relaxing and not taking the world too seriously.
The Postcard From Kobenhavn - Various Artists (STUCD10698)
I guess Kobenhavn is Copenhagen. Not much is familiar here in this collection of songs from Danish singer songwriters except a couple of covers. As an album there are quite a few stylistic change ups as one might expect from a compilation. Yet there are common threads that go through each piece. There's a prevailing feel of optimism even in the darker themed songs. Worth a listen. Sonically one might catch the fat tone characteristic of Stockfisch Records. Stockfisch is credited.
Smooth jazz takes on familiar songs. The arrangements are simple, the playing devoid of useless frills. The session players do a great job and at no time do you feel like the songs are egotistically wrapped around Cole. All the musicians seem to have been given a lot of freedom and the result is a flowing bed of rhythm, melodies and textures. Of particular merit is Russel Ferrante's piano play. Ferrante is his usual perfectly timed self on this album seeting up Cole in such a way that one might think Cole better than he really is. Whatever the case may be, I find this a very enjoyable album for just relaxing and not taking the world too seriously.
The Postcard From Kobenhavn - Various Artists (STUCD10698)
I guess Kobenhavn is Copenhagen. Not much is familiar here in this collection of songs from Danish singer songwriters except a couple of covers. As an album there are quite a few stylistic change ups as one might expect from a compilation. Yet there are common threads that go through each piece. There's a prevailing feel of optimism even in the darker themed songs. Worth a listen. Sonically one might catch the fat tone characteristic of Stockfisch Records. Stockfisch is credited.
