New music

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This article was published 07/07/2023 (1163 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

POP/ROCK

Slow Leaves

Meantime

(Birthday Cake Media/Sony Music)

Many of us think of life as a series of milestones — graduations, new jobs, birthdays, holidays, etc. — but Winnipeg singer-songwriter Grant Davidson knows we do most of our living in the meantime. On this, Davidson’s fifth album as Slow Leaves, the former teacher with a honey-coated, vibrato singing voice turns his mellow focus to the small moments of clarity that fill our days with meaning.

On the surface, the music of Slow Leaves is as mellow as a soft summer breeze, but Davidson’s low-key, folk-rock inflection belies his preoccupation with the big things — the naked honesty of intimacy (as on the folkie-blues of Underneath This, or the Cohen-esque album closer Say Goodnight); wistful romantic reminiscence (as on Jenny, or the exquisite Grand Marquis); and the inevitable sentimental reflection that comes with the death of a loved one (as on Goodbye Florida, a song for his late father).

There’s an overtly existential streak in this material, too, from Davidson’s musings on being a touring musician in the jaunty album opener American Band, to the sense of impermanence that permeates Happy All the Time and Nothing Really Changes. The throughline, essentially, is that all the thoughts, occurrences and actions of our inner and outer selves are what make us whole, yet flawed.

In keeping with this ‘life is what you make it’ theme, Meantime is very much a one-man show — Davidson played all the musical parts (save for Ryan Voth’s drums, backing vocals on three songs by Alexa Dirks, and some additional strings and accordion) and he recorded all these 10 songs in his home studio. It’s an album well worth digging into, in the car, at home, and, of course, in the meantime. ★★★★ out of 5

STREAM THESE: American Band, Grand Marquis, Goodbye Florida

On YouTube: Slow Leaves playlist wfp.to/NJl

— John Kendle

 

ROCK

Lucinda Williams

Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart (Highway 20 Records/Thirty Tigers)

At least twice on her new album, Lucinda Williams worries about whether she can still write good songs.

She sings on one cut about putting herself “where the songs will find me.” And on the closer, Never Gonna Fade Away, she frets about what happens when “the words don’t rhyme, and I can’t find a line, and I’m looking for a sign, and I’m running out of time.”

Ironically, both are good songs. And while it’s sometimes a bad sign when songwriters bemoan the need for inspiration, Williams’ muse visits her plenty on Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart.

The album is, as advertised, a collection of hard-charging rock ‘n’ roll. It reflects her resistance to being labeled as Americana — though she could legitimately claim a spot on that genre’s Mount Rushmore.

Williams’ honesty and empathy serve her well on Hum’s Liquor, a tribute to Bob Stinson, one of the founding members of the seminal rock band, The Replacements, who died years ago at the age of 35. The song, which features Stinson’s younger brother and fellow Replacements founding member Tommy Stinson, demonstrates that Williams, who just turned 70, still has the chops to strike deep emotional chords.

Williams dedicates the entire album to Bob Stinson, “a true rock ‘n’ roll heart.”

Her band, a mixture of her regular touring ensemble and others, sounds especially good on a tribute to Tom Petty, who died in 2017. Starting with a winding guitar riff that could have come from Petty’s own Stratocaster, Stolen Moments has the power to make you miss him all over again.

It’s worth noting, without making excuses, that Williams has had a rough few years. Her East Nashville home was damaged in a tornado in 2020, and later that year she suffered a minor stroke that left her unable to play the guitar. That forced her to co-write more songs, working with husband Tom Overby and others. It may also explain why these 10 songs feel more hook-based than centred around her lyrics, and why she worries if she still has it.

But the songs do find her, with a big assist from friends and bandmates. The album may not match her best work lyrically, but that’s a high bar — and it’s still good enough to add another important chapter to one of the most important musical journeys of the last half-century. ★★★★★ out of five

STREAM THESE: Hum’s Liquor, Stolen Moments

— Scout Stroud, The Associated Press

 

JAZZ

Bill Evans

Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings From Denmark (1965-1969) (Elemental Music)

OK, I confess I’m a wuss. I keep promising not to buy any more “just discovered”, “never before heard” or whatever albums by pianist Bill Evans. Then I buy it. And like this “new” Bill Evans release, I simply love it. After all these years and a ridiculous Bill Evans library, I find new moments of incredible beauty and skill that define this remarkable musician. While living a basically self-inflicted tragic life, his music lives on in ways that almost defy logical explanation.

This two-CD release covers material recorded in Denmark over a five-year period when Evans was performing at various festivals and concerts in and around Denmark. It includes several trios — with bassists Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson or Eddie Gomez, and drummers Alan Dawson, Alex Riel or Marty Morell. Evans solos on six tracks and is joined by the Royal Danish Symphony or the Danish Radio Big Band on six or seven more.

The playlist here has mostly well-known Evans tunes. The recording quality is excellent and he is in wonderful form throughout. Play the first two tracks – Come Rain or Come Shine and Someday My Prince Will Come and you will appreciate that he is worthy of his place in the jazz hierarchy. Perhaps lesser known tunes like Very Early or Waltz for Debbie are offered here with true beauty. The solo tracks are also examples of his never-ending creativity. Jazz trios with symphony orchestra are not uncommon. These examples show the respect each musician has for the music. Time Remembered is a lush arrangement of the Evans tune allowing space for the trio within the swirling brush strokes of the symphony.

There is really not much more to say here. If you know Evans you already know, and if you don’t this is a good place to start. When someone tells me they “don’t like jazz”, I tell them to listen to Bill Evans and if they still say that, I’ll give up. Whatever the hype, these are treasures. ★★★★★ out of five

STREAM THESE: take your pick

— Keith Black

CLASSICAL

Kyle Eastwood Quintet with Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Eastwood Symphonic

(Arte)

Acclaimed jazz bassist/composer Kyle Eastwood pays homage to his legendary father, Clint Eastwood, in this hybrid album that celebrates the Hollywood actor/director’s iconic film scores throughout the years.

The upcoming release on the Arte label follows the younger artist’s prior 2019 recording, Cinematic, with his latest, 10th album Eastwood Symphonic notably created in collaboration with his 93-year old father. Kyle’s jazz quintet comprised of Andrew McCormack, piano; Brandon Allen, saxophone; Quentin Collins, trumpet; and Chris Higginbottom, drums, joins forces with the Grammy award winning Czech National Symphony Orchestra in 12 eclectic tracks led by conductor/trumpeter Gast Waltzing.

Cinephiles will enjoy hearing fresh takes — courtesy of Waltzing’s sensitive arrangements and the obvious commitment of the players to this music – of themes from Clint Eastwood films: a driving The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Ennio Morricone), Dirty Harry, (Lalo Schifrin) and The Eiger Sanction (John Williams), the latter particularly marrying the grandeur of a symphony orchestra with the intimate, conversational nature of a jazz ensemble.

However what makes this tribute even more special are offerings composed by Clint himself, including the main themes from Flags of Our Fathers and Changeling, in addition to Kyle’s original Letters from Iwo Jima, and Gran Torino, penned in collaboration with writing partner Michael Stevens. Another highlight is the program’s oldest work: A Fistful of Dollars dating back to 1964. These selections are fascinating to hear, as well as underscoring the musical ties that bind between father and son; united by blood as well as their mutual, lifelong passion for music. HHH1/2 out of five

STREAM THIS: Flags of Our Fathers

— Holly Harris