This is the perfect CD for the morning after a party: soothing and thoughtful, with a touch of whimsy and enough rhythm to help you clean up. It's quiet but not formless, with empathic interplay between two
Steely Dan bandmates on trumpet, guitar, and vocals.
Slow transcends the usual musical categories, rendering
Monk,
Mancini, and
Miles as well as music associated with rock groups like
Black Sabbath.
Michael Leonhart is a prodigious, precocious talent who won a Grammy while still in high school. His ethereal vocalizing on his own "Beautiful Drelo" and the standout "Slow" is reminiscent of
Sting; his muted trumpet shines up the old classic "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," evoking both
Chet Baker and
Miles Davis, but without any of their darkness.
Leonhart is clearly an original: see his wistful cowboy take on "Azure, the rarely covered
Ellington tune, which features
Jon Herington's lazy slide guitar and is punctuated by wolf whistles (note: it works).
Leonhart's "Umpf!" is a witty delight and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" becomes the friendly backdrop to a relaxed mealtime conversation. Another uncommon gem is
Mancini's poignant "The Lonely Princess," while the beautiful, extended take on "Flamenco Sketches" highlights
Herington's fine guitar meditations. The two bossas --
Edú Lobo's "Zambi" and
Ivan Lins' "Aparecida" -- are exquisitely subtle. This is an unusual, creative, and very enjoyable CD. Recommended. ~ Judith Schlesinger