Alan Broadbent: Every Time I Think of You

Working with the Tokyo Strings, pianist Alan Broadbent interprets a program of familiar songs and original works on Every Time I Think of You. Bassist Brian Bromberg and drummer Kendall Kay, longtime associates of the pianist, lend a heartfelt quality to this relaxed affair as the music drives on slowly and meaningfully. Broadbent chooses a somber mood for the album, which adopts romanticism as its theme.

Broadbent's "Nirvana Blues stands out for the touch of drama that the composer adds for flavor. As comfortable as the rest of the album's selections, this one contains much more. Bromberg solos with intensity and Kay delivers a light, Latin rhythm to the piece as Broadbent steps up with a million things to say. Along with the string section, he has his moment in the sun with much contemplation.

The pianist lets his music ooze delicately with crisp, lightly dancing keyboard figures. He loves a good lyric, and he ensures that his interpretations come alive convincingly. The string section sets the mood for Broadbent's album, however, with a somber mood that pervades nearly every selection. With "Nirvana Blues and "Autumn Variations as the lone exceptions, his program moves slowly through an elegiac procession that honors the memory of souls departed or lost. There's genuine sadness throughout this release.