Breeding of Mind
pairs guitarist
O'Donel Levy
with arranger
Manny Albam
for a genre-defying set that embraces elements of
jazz
,
funk
and
baroque
pop
-- the end result is soulful and sublime, couching
Levy
's uncommonly expressive tone in a series of bold, lush contexts that underline the sophistication of his craft. Backed by bassist
Eric Ward
, organist
Charles Covington
and drummer
Chester Thompson
transcends the limitations of
Groove Merchant
warhorses like
"Never Can Say Goodbye"
"We've Only Just Begun"
with aplomb, winnowing deep inside their familiar melodies to reveal new layers of loveliness, but
is undoubtedly best served by originals like
"Cherries"
"The Chocolate Horse,"
which address contemporary
sensibilities with remarkable imagination and intricacy. ~ Jason Ankeny