CINDY HORSTMAN AND
MICHAEL MEDINA
Duets
SeaHorse Records (2012)
It's hard to believe that the fantastic music on Duets comes from only two instruments and
that those two instruments are seldom heard in a duet setting. However, when
electric harpist Cindy Horstman and electric bassist Michael Medina play
together, the results are immensely accessible, warmly engaging, and hugely
entertaining. This is the first CD by the duo since their 1997 release Tutone and I sincerely hope it won't be
as long a wait for the next one (granted, Cindy and Michael released other
albums during that gap which featured guest artists, all of which come
recommended by yours truly). I have been a big fan of Horstman and Medina since
that 1997 release, but even I was caught by surprise at the sheer excellence of
their latest effort. Duets is one of
the most likable discs I have heard in 2012, period.
While only two of the ten tracks on the CD are originals, of
the remaining "standards" that the pair have chosen to record, only
three are what I might label as "expected" (the inclusion of
"America the Beautiful" as the concluding track, while the song
itself is a classic, it's certainly not heard on many albums – at least the
ones I am sent to review). Those three more recognizable ones are
"Scarborough Fair," "The Water is Wide," and "Danny
Boy." Horstman's and Medina's great taste in picking the other selections
is quite impressive.
Starting right out of the gate with something unexpected,
Medina takes the lead melody on the duo's interpretation of the Earth, Wind and
Fire hit, "That's the Way of the World." The two artists give the
famous song a laid back yet jazzy spin, and uncover the optimistic, uplifting
"guts" of the song's lyrical message without having to include
vocals. The next track is "My One and Only Love," a soft, romantic,
ballad that smolders gently so that the passion of the piece is closer to a low
and steady burn than a red hot love affair. It would make a great slow dance
tune, and I can almost envision the setting – a dimly lit cocktail lounge high
above a metropolis where the tinkling of ice in glasses dissolves into the
background as you and your paramour gently weave your way across the dance
floor to the mellow notes from the bass and harp. Man, I wish I was in that
scene!
Horstman's harp takes over the lead duties on
"Scarborough Fair" which drapes the melancholy nature of the song
with a slight jazz accent without sacrificing the emotional weight of the
composition. Cindy's fingers flit effortlessly across the strings – she is such
a talented harpist and her playing style is unlike any others on this
instrument (of those who I have reviewed over the years). "Septembro"
(which is sometimes subtitled "Brazilian Wedding Song") was made most
famous by Quincy Jones and here Medina returns to the lead. His slow bass notes
take this tune into the same gentle, romantic vein as "My One and Only
Love" but it has an even softer and more romantic feel to it than the
former track. Midway through the song, he spins off into a slightly more edgy,
overtly jazzy direction, but Horstman keeps the song grounded in a slow tempo
groove through her sedate yet oh-so-pretty accompaniment. "Remembering"
is one of the two originals on the disc, this one composed by Horstman, who
takes over on lead (Medina's bass is barely there at times, providing sparse rhythms
underneath the melody). As the title would suggest, the piece is reflective and
introspective – it's one of my favorites on the album.
The remaining tracks include a nice rendering of the hymn
"The Water is Wide" which maintains the heartfelt nature of the song
while infusing it with extremely subtle jazziness, a splendid take on
the tried-and-true "Danny Boy," capturing both the heartache and the
beauty of that traditional Irish song, and the other original (co-written by
both the artists), "Bonnie Brae" on which the artists liven up the
proceedings – not a lot, though, just a smidgen.
I can't sing the praises of this CD enough. It's a sheer joy
to listen to Cindy Horstman and Michael Medina, two artists at the top of their
game throughout Duets. The album
mines a unique sonic landscape, i.e. a place where soft (not smooth) jazz,
folk, and pop music meet and come together. There is nary a misstep on this album
(yes, even "America the Beautiful" sounds great!). Duets is ideal late-night listening,
especially for hopeless romantics like this reviewer. So gather your honey to
your side, pour two glasses of wine (or whichever libation you enjoy), light
some candles, queue up the CD or mp3 player and commence cuddling. You can
thank me in the morning!
The CD/download is available at CDBaby, Amazon, and iTunes. Listen to samples at Cindy Horstman's website.
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