I’m a sucker for “ballads” albums. Always have been, and always will be. It can be with strings, as in “Clifford Brown with…” or a small combo like with John Coltrane’s quartet. Here, we’ve got a lovely one with co-leaders Nick Phillips/tp and Cava Menzies/p along with a supporting cast of Jeff Chambers/b and Jaz Sawyer/dr, as they go through some lonely and luscious takes of material such as “Speak Low” and “You Don’t Know What Love Is.” Sometimes Phillips mutes his horn, as on the aching “The Peacocks” with Menzie’s spacious support, and on “You” he seems to be using his valves for a sub toned affect which contrasts intriguingly with the chiming piano chords. Chambers leads the way on a fragile “For All We Know” and Menzies does some crystalline work with her keys on the opening of “Almost Blue.” All throughout, Phillips bares his soul with long clear lines mixed with agonizing expressions. As bel canto as jazz can get without playing “Vesta la Giubba.”
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