An album that works like a charm. And while sometimes you wonder who the icons of the future are - well the future is happening now and the infectiously grooving Continuance from Joey Alexander is more evidence that the Indonesia-born player is in the new pantheon.
Tunes are vibrant and more than feelgood - they just seem to tap the moment, take Theo Croker's part on 'Why Don't We'. Croker is on several tracks but the album operates just as much as a trio album elsewhere. Alexander's use of mellotron to conjure the sound of flute on 'Aliceanna' is more than simply a gimmick and transforms the mood of the album entirely.
Remarkably the twentysomething pianist/composer Alexander's 7th album, bubbling bass from Kris Funn is part of the secret sauce (in the spotlight particularly at the beginning of 'Zealousy') with John Davis keeping a firm tilt on drums and who plays a bit like Brian Blade at times. The album contains 5 new Alexander originals plus the band's take on Bonnie Raitt number 'I Can't Make You Love Me' and the venerable hymn 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness'. Warm and welcoming - what's not to like?
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