Mark Winkler & David Benoit Old Friends

Mark Winkler & David Benoit
Old Friends
Cafe Pacific Records

"Old Friends" brings together vocalist (and lyricist) Winkler with keyboardist David Benoit for a set of straight-forward jazz vocals. Benoit is likely the best known of the two as a producer as well as performer. Winkler has had a productive recording career as well. On six of the thirteen tunes on this album, the two are joined by bassist Gabe Davis, drummer Clayton Cameron, and guitarist Pat Kelley. Cellist Stefanie Fife appears on three tunes, and percussionist Kevin Winard is on one.

There is an eloquence to the program here with Benoit's accompaniment and Winkler's nuanced phrasing, clear diction, and delightful conversational approach. The selections with the rhythm trio add additional variety to this mix of standards and originals. Bob Dorough's effervescent "I've Got Just About Everything" is the first selection with a lively backing, including Cameron's adept use of brushes and Kelley's nimble guitar. Then there is a duet rendition of Dave Frishberg's "Sweet Kentucky Ham" with Benoit's exquisite accompaniment of Winkler's delivery about a lazy city where the sidewalks close up early. Pat Kelley's guitar opens an endearing interpretation of "The Shadow of Your Smile." Another duet is a thoughtful rendition of Mancini-Bricusse penned "Two For the Road."

The cello of Stefanie Fife joins Benoit in a thoughtful performance of Paul Simon's "Old Friends/Bookends." She also adds instrumental color to Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going To Rain Today." Winkler gives an appropriate moody treatment to "When This Love Affair is Over." Benoit is heard on the organ as well as piano, while Kelley adds some incisive guitar commentary. There is clarity in the manner Winkler sings, which brings the words of the songs to the listener. This is also evident in the original that he and Benoit collaborated on, such as "In a Quiet Place (Kei's Song)" and "Dragonfly," a beautiful song of hope for love. Then there is a Benoit melody to which lyrics were added, "Thirty Years (Only Sunshine Days)," which is dedicated to the memory of jazz journalist Christopher Louden.

The closing track is "Some Other Time," one of the songs from the Leonard Bernstein's "On the Town." It is a nostalgic song about the parting of someone close, and Winkler's heartfelt singing gives the lyrics their proper weight, with Benoit graceful playing. Benoit and Winkler have been friends for some 37 years, and the marvelous vocal performances on "Old Friends" display a musical closeness to match their personal friendship.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is "I Think It's Going To Rain Today."

David Benoit Featuring Jane Monheit 2 In Love

David Benoit Featuring Jane Monheit
2 In Love
Concord

When asked for something new after over 30 instrumental albums, David Benoit thought that an album featuring vocals might be what is needed. He decided to write new songs, but not a lyricist he had friends Lorraine Feather and Mark Winkler as well as new friend Spencer Day to wed his songs that were all over the place and then recruited Jane Monheit to sing these new songs that were "all over the place stylistically". The result is a new Concord album by Benoit featuring Jane Monheit, "2 In Love."

Its a really lovely musical combination, as Monheit's lovely voice is able to handle the spanish-tinged jazz of the opening "Barcelona Nights" (and Pat Kelly's acoustic guitar enhances the performance). In contrast, "This Dance" sounds like a sophisticated cabaret combo's rendition of a superior Broadway tune." "Two in Love" is a lovely bit of sophisticated jazzy pop with a delicious vocal and a nice latin touch with a stately piano solo. "Dragonfly," has a piano trio is augmented by strings behind Monheit's as she hopes about love waiting for her. The clarity of Monheit's phrasing and her marvelous pitch is displayed on "Love Will Light the Way," which is another song that suggests how marvelous Monheit might be on the musical stage. "Fly Away" has a folk-like feel to its melody while "Something's Gotta Give" is another gem that sounds like it was written for the stage.

Tim Weisberg plays flute on the relaxed "instrumental "Love in Hyde Park," and the album closes with a solo Benoit performance of a medley "Love Theme from Candide / Send in the Clowns," that is marvelously played in a fairly straight-forward manner. Marvelously played and sang, "2 In Love" is a recording that evokes a posh cabaret and a sophisticated musical audience that would be appreciating the magic Benoit and Monheit spin.

I received my review copy from Concord. This review appeared originally in the September-October 2015  Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 362). Here is a preview of "Two in Love."