Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gary Brunotte: Smile

Gary Brunotte: Smile

By Jim Santella
January 22, 2006
Sign in to view read count

Gary Brunotte's piano trio provides a lovely session of lyrical ballads and gentle reflection on Smile, a tribute album dedicated to Dexter, the pianist's family pet who passed away at age fifteen. Judging from the album cover photo, he must surely have left behind pleasant memories and golden moments that remain frozen in time.

Ten originals and four standard tracks allow Brunotte to tell his story openly. From the blues of "Seal-Point Strut to the quaint bossa mood of "Triste, the session rises and falls with emotions bared and passion revealed. Kirsten Lambert adds lovely vocals on "Smile and "Triste that settle in gently to extend the album's caressing mood. Dexter adds a cat-vocal comment to close Brunotte's light "Meow Samba, a lively, up-tempo romp that dances on padded feet.

Ciao Meow simmers slowly and meaningfully with a lush piano trio texture all around, while "Samba Siamese drives with the energy of a kitten toying with some insignificant household item that harbors an interest for nobody else but him. For the most part, this recommended piano trio album waltzes generously to a balladeer's tune, bringing bassist Steve Haines and drummer Bill Berg alongside Brunotte for an excursion into the land where heart and soul take control. His Smile is as beautiful as a cherished and lasting friendship.

Track Listing

Ditty for the Kitty; Merry Old Land of Oz (Paws); Wood Lake; Smile; Seal-Point Strut; Meow Samba; In the Night; Morning Mist; Triste; Blue-Point Blues; Classicat; Samba Siamese; Ciao Meow; Smile.

Personnel

Gary Brunotte

piano

Gary Brunotte: piano, percussion, accordion, organ; Bill Berg: drums, percussion; Steve Haines, Rick Jones: bass; Kirsten Lambert: vocals.

Album information

Title: Smile | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Self Produced

< Previous
The Society Of The Spectacle

Next >
Set In Stone

Comments

About Gary Brunotte

Instrument: Piano

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.