Male guitar and female voice; different approaches and moods.
Acoustic guitarist Mike Bono composes and performs the music, while Natalie Cressman delivers the lyrics (and some of the tunes) on this intimate album. The lyrics come off as poems, as Cressman’s calm voice caresses the reflective “Dusk” and “Folds of Time.” Bono’s playing is patient and supportive, serving as rich drapery on “Trapped in Forever” and the delicate “Goodbye Lullaby.” Soft watercolors of sound.
South Americans Susana Pineda and Luis Salcedo are more in-your-face on their presentation here. The Colombian vocalist is earnest in her delivery, be it on the kinetic “Bridges” or the dramatic “Dos Gardenas” with extra percussion by Jeff Denson. The moods change like going through various Latin neighborhoods, as urgent picks on the vibrant “Does It Rain on the Moon” follow the assertive strums and wordless vocals on Wayne Shorter’s “Mahjong” with John Santos’ percussion. Some sophisticated bass makes “Petalos” the jazziest piece, while the closing “Once We’re Gone” is a pastoral sunset. Lovely and exciting.