"Polite" is an adjective that comes immediately to mind when listening to this quartet, which is billed as the Chuck Marohnic Trio with guitarist John Stowell. The group plays lovely fare for a late night club, with subdued volume, immaculate phrasing, and tasteful choices of notes. Don't expect anything new or revolutionary: while the tempos do vary, there is a conservative hue that infuses every measure. Stowell plays the part of the horn, with his guitar generally taking the lead and performing solo improvisations like a saxophone. Curiously, while the album alludes to Thelonious Monk, there are no tunes by the great eccentric, and his influence on Marohnic's style appears de minimus. The tracks include a couple written by Marohnic, with a nice selection of lesser-known pieces by well-known composers, including Miles Davis' "Nardis," Cole Porter's "Dream Dancing," Jerome Kern's "Nobody Else but Me," and Steve Swallow's "Peau Douce." Marohnic's "Some of These Things" is a variation of "All the Things You Are." Most of the playing is relaxed and fine, like warm slippers and an aged wine on a snowy Sunday. While this recording is unlikely to win any awards, it is nonetheless a reserved, unassuming, unpretentious, professional performance by some disciplined musicians who swing lightly yet impressively. ~ Steven Loewy