It’s hard to carry off a solo album under any condition, but even more so when the only instrument is the vibraphone. Yet, Tom Collier pulls it off with cleverness and accessibility combining his own originals with clever covers of various standards.
Of the latter, he delivers a lovely and tropical read of Freddie Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower” with aplomb, while Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonely, I Could Cry” has the vibes with a tear in the beer. There’s a deep resonance to Roy Orbison’s “Crying” that makes it a glorious aria. Of his own material, he does some wonders with the vibes that make the title tune sound almost flutelike, while “Hopscotch” is a festive Caribbean street pieces. A “Five Reflections On Wood” features moments of meditation, thick layers of haunting reflections and reverent meditations”, while Collier throws in an Irish jig on ”Dance of the Avaricious Dolt”. Fascinating rhythms.