With an unexpected vigor,
David Crosby's late-career renaissance continues as he delivers
Sky Trails, his third solo effort in four years. Arriving hot on the heels of 2016's Michael League-produced
Lighthouse,
Sky Trails splits the difference between its predecessor's spare acoustic ruminations and the singer/songwriter's fascination with jazz. Produced by his multi-instrumentalist son, James Raymond, much of this set brandishes a full band as
Crosby and his collaborators explore
Steely Dan-style grooves on the funky opener, "She's Got to Be Somewhere," or politicized jazz-folk on the harmony-stacked "Capitol." On the gentler, more introspective side, piano ballads like "Before Tomorrow Falls on Love" and the excellent "Home Free" distinctively recall the mid-'70s experimental heyday of longtime friend and peer
Joni Mitchell, whose gorgeous "Amelia"
Crosby faithfully covers here. Tonally and instrumentally, quite a bit of
Sky Trails shares a kinship with
Mitchell masterpieces like
Hejira and
The Hissing of Summer Lawns, utilizing fretless bass, jazz piano, soprano sax, and unconventional chord structures. On the folkier side, another highlight is the lovely acoustic title cut, co-written and co-sung by North Carolina singer/songwriter
Becca Stevens. As a whole,
Crosby touches on a number of pleasing themes and sounds on
Sky Trails, lending his sweet tenor and trademark harmonies to material of surprisingly high quality given his recent prolificacy. ~ Timothy Monger