In jazz, there are pianists that focus on chops, and others that spotlight composing. Continuing the long tradition of pianists like Duke Pearson, Jordan Siegel creates an album that is filled with wonderful melodies, mostly inspired by the Silver Screen and TV. He is joined by a core of Alex Boneham/b, Christian Euman/dr, Natsuki Sugiymana/as-fl, and guests Andrew Synowiec/g, Nick Mancini/vib, Brian Kilgore/perc, The Vertigo String Quartet and the woodwind ensemble of Glen Berger, Brett McDonald, David Catalan and Jennifer Boyd.
Keeley Bumford adds her Norah Jonesy voice to the indie-feel of “No Chance” while the strings add a parlor atmosphere to “The Woods” as their pizzicato’d strings team with Sugiyama’s skating flute on “The Baker street Caper. Andrew Synowiec’s mandolin teams with the strings for a reflected and impressionistic “Song For Porter” . Seigel’s piano is lyrical on “ The Lake House” and makes for post bop harmonics with Mancini’s vibes and Sugiyama’s rich alto sax on “Monkey In The Wilderness”. The album as a whole is a rich tapestry, tied in together with thoughtful melodies and solos that never overstay their welcome.