Don Stiernberg: About Time

Stiernberg’s lead mandolin voice flows gently and easily. It’s the kind of acoustic session one could listen to all day and never become distracted or restless. Curt Morrison’s guitar interludes have a similar timbre and a lyrical feel to them. With walking stand-up bass, the pair revels in their ability to communicate well; whether backing each other up, stretching out, or trading fours. Guest artists appear for about half the session, adding another dimension. Russ Phillips stands in for "Falling in Love with Love" and "My Shining Hour," adding his brass-accurate trombone sound. Alejo Poveda adds congas and other intricate percussion sounds to several tracks; my favorite is his bongo accompaniment to "Fever." Steve Schneck’s sultry flugelhorn floats the melody of "But Beautiful," while Richie Fudoli’s rich and syrupy tenor saxophone graces "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and "Perdido" appropriately, and Art Davis highlights "Indian Summer" (flugelhorn) and "That Old Feeling (muted trumpet). Stiernberg sings on two numbers in a relaxed Chet Baker style. Highly recommended, Blue Night Records’ first release is a huge success, representing the timeless nature of this music we call jazz.

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