Dan Jacobs: Blue After Hours

This album begins very promisingly with Dan Jacobs' flugelhorn and Randy Dorman's guitar on the title tune channelling the spirit of Paul Desmond and Jim Hall from their many '60s recordings, usually in a pianoless quartet or quintet. Of course, I can't really compare Jacobs' horn with Paul Desmond's alto, but the same vibe exists insofar as relaxing and non-demanding jazz music from quality musicians.

The album is dedicated to veteran trumpeter Bobby Shew, and this is as good an indicator of Jacobs' style as any. The tunes consist of standards and pop tune covers, plus two originals from Jacobs and Shew. Both "Don't Know Why," associated as Norah Jones' biggest hit, and Sting's "Fields of Gold" are very radio-friendly and deserve smooth jazz airplay. Other tunes, like "Angel Eyes" and "Like Someone In Love," are perfect for unwinding. The closest that the album gets to cooking is an updated version of Jobim's "Amor En Paz" and a closing version of "Look For The Silver Lining" performed in a '50s Chet Baker style. Only on Jacobs' own "Dream Sketches" does the music wander into other areas (eg. New Age) with the use of what sounds like a guitar synth.

This album is a showcase for the trumpeter and guitarist and their interplay. Randy Dorman provides some delicious guitar fills and solos lyrically; Dan Jacobs supplies sparkling trumpet/flugelhorn work throughout the album.