Aimee Nolte & Hideaki Tokunaga

Aimee Nolte & Hideaki Tokunaga: Just Us

by Jack Bowers
May 9, 2011

This genial album by singer/pianist Aimee Nolte and guitarist Hideaki Tokunaga consists of eleven original compositions, all of them written or co-written by Nolte. While there are snippets of jazz from time to time, they are more peripheral than essential. The spotlight is most often on Nolte's voice, which is clear and steady but otherwise unexceptional. As these are accomplished musicians, the session glides smoothly along with no apparent lapses. Having said that, what disconcerts most are ...