A delightful album by Canadian born multi-instrumentalist, composer Schell. It's not going to be an Album of the Year contender but it will certainly be much closer to the top than the bottom. A recording that will probably stay in my memory long after the big hitters have had their day.
The lady plays expressive piano, gets a beautiful sound on flute and, as if that wasn't enough, composed some lyrics to Brubeck's In Your Own Sweet Way - dedicated to her boyfriend. Her vocal on It Had to be You may also have been directed at the same lucky fella!
Apart from the standards, the others are Schell originals, mainly with a Latin theme, and helped along the way by a sound trio, occasionally augmented by percussionist Caro and, on El Picacho, by Diaz on trumpet and piano.
Danza Nocturne de Flores, a solo piano piece, has a compelling, reflective mood that, whilst not sending me to sleep, evoked a dreamy reverie that didn't hurt at all.
Perplexity, as the title suggests has a boppy feel to it with Wyser-Pratte's brushwork complementing Schell's fine piano solo, Samuels' guitar solo and Wiitala's supportive bass lines.
Other numbers included: Cava dell'isola; Sweet and Lovely; Forio Rain; Summer Sea; Luna Plateada; Un Sueño de la Noche
Release date June 23 on Saphu Records SCD-0037 (usual suspects). Lance
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