To say that The Understated is well-named is in itself an understatement. Nevertheless, that works to its credit rather than to the contrary. It's delicate, introspective, subdued and, in its own sweet way, it's rather beautiful.
There's that will-o-the wisp feeling you get when you listen to early Miles or Lee Konitz or Warne Marsh. I was tempted to crank up the volume but I didn't. To do so would have defeated the object of the exercise. Instead, I closed the window to keep out any extraneous noises. I even made sure there were no pins perched precariously close to dropping. It's that kind of album.
