This album lead by pianist and composer Victor Gould oozes with warm and pastoral style. Along with Jeremy Pelt on trumpet (who also co-produced the session)j Gould teams together Godwin Louis/as-ss, Dayna Stephens/ts, Anne Drummond/fl-af, Vicente Archer/b, Rodney Green/dr, Lucas PIno/bcl, Aaron Johnson/btb, Ismel Wignall/perc and a string ensemble of Yoojin Park, Jim Tsao, Jocelin Pan and Susan Mandel for a number of the tunes.
The result is a gorgeously pasteled collection of pieces that mix pretty harmonies, rich themes and concise and coherent solos as a rich Raphael tapestry. The string quartet sways to Drummond’s flute on the suave “October” and gallops along with Gould during “Inheritance.” Park’s solo violin work is dreamy on the title track, as the horns veer in and out lead by Stephens on the clever “ Let Go.” Gould asserts himself after a gentle opening by Louis on ”Karma” and saunters with Wignall on”What Do We Need.” Most alluring is when Pelt glows with the leader on a sublime duet “ Polka Dots and Moonbeams” and Gould goes solo on a delicate and thoughtful “Brand New.” This is an album to savor; any So Cal gigs on the horizon?