The Very Thought of You

Album Review

Rhode Island-based label North Star specializes in, among other things, the romantic side of jazz. Utilizing top-flight studio and performing musicians from the New England area playing classic standards with slightly jazzy arrangements, the label has turned out several quiet, easy-to-listen-to jazz albums. While the music has a romantic bent, it is by no means just a maudlin recital of melody lines of classic standards. There are improvisation, dynamics, and character, all done in a gentle manner. The music doesn't shout at you — it whispers, caresses, and seduces. Listen to Artie Montanaro on trombone and Bruce Abbott on soprano sax explore, not dismember "The Very Thought of You." Similarly, John Allmark's slightly up-tempo trumpet is the foil for Abbott, this time on tenor with Steve DeConti's guitar laying down chords underneath. There's even some Dixieland thrown in with "Ain't Misbehavin." The play list has 14 items and the ensemble — actually a septet — takes more than an hour to get through them. So it's not just three minutes and then on to the next track; there is thoughtful and innovative, if quiet, playing involved. This album is recommended as get-your-attention background to dinners, long walks, or just the enjoyment of listening to good music performed at its peak.