Beat Kaestli tackles an unexplored source of inspiration on this intriguing album: The great French Songbook. He’s supported by the team of Jesse Lewis/g, Will Holshauser/acc, Matt Wigton/b and Fred Kennedy/dr for a wide swath of Gaul influences. With folksy accordion accompaniment, he delivers a Mahleresque “Frere Jacques” with a relaxed, warm and calm vocal delivery. His ruminaing and relaxed take of “La Mer” leans more towards Debussy than Darin, while the traditional “La Haut sur la Montagne” has an African percussive and guitar lilt to it. He gets cozy and coy on “Comme en Plein reve” and is endearing on the spartan “Cantique Suisse”. His lines are drawn out like a Monet landscape on “The Choice You Make” and feels Left Bank bohemian on”En Bord de Mer/Lugar Comum.” This music is as fresh as a whiff of a freshly opened boulangerie,
B + B Productions