AMG Review of Slow

Judith Schlesinger
All Music Guide

This is the perfect CD for the morning after a party: soothing and thoughtful, with a touch of whimsy and enough rhythm to help you clean up. It's quiet but not formless, with empathic interplay between two Steely Dan bandmates on trumpet, guitar, and vocals. Slow transcends the usual musical categories, rendering Monk, Mancini, and Miles as well as music associated with rock groups like Black Sabbath. Michael Leonhart is a prodigious, precocious talent who won a Grammy while still in high school. His ethereal vocalizing on his own "Beautiful Drelo" and the standout "Slow" is reminiscent of Sting; his muted trumpet shines up the old classic "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," evoking both Chet Baker and Miles Davis, but without any of their darkness. Leonhart is clearly an original: see his wistful cowboy take on "Azure, the rarely covered Ellington tune, which features Jon Herington's lazy slide guitar and is punctuated by wolf whistles (note: it works). Leonhart's "Umpf!" is a witty delight and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" becomes the friendly backdrop to a relaxed mealtime conversation. Another uncommon gem is Mancini's poignant "The Lonely Princess," while the beautiful, extended take on "Flamenco Sketches" highlights Herington's fine guitar meditations. The two bossas -- Edú Lobo's "Zambi" and Ivan Lins' "Aparecida" -- are exquisitely subtle. This is an unusual, creative, and very enjoyable CD. Recommended.