Max Wild: Zambezi Sunset

Wild brings a lyrical style of play on several of the songs. He cues in on the rhythm and his band locks in as well, so many of the songs come off strong and heady. A "New Beginning" is defined by a slow waltz tempo. Wild states the theme crisply and then goes on to sweeten the melody, the skein further unravelled by Soren Moller, whose piano wraps a gentle fall of notes. Wild returns with a harder groove for his explorations before returning to the theme. "Ndindindi" flies on an exhilarating African rhythm, the guitar of Jesse Lewis acting as the messenger for the sinuous melody. The saxophone curls in on short, jumpy notes before it gets deeper into the pulse and spins dizzyingly.

Wild changes the shape of "Remember Me," nestling a slow tempo between sunny Latin cavorting. Some of the best moments come when Lewis slides into spaces and adds extra dimensions. The band plays a stripped down version of "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" at a funereal pace that cuts loose the bounce and perkiness that were an integral part of the composition. Despite this and Wild's occasional tendency to overblow, Zambezi Sunset is an appealing record.

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