Five years after their debut album on their own
A to Z
label,
Abby Aronson Zocher
and
Norm Zocher
are back again, still leading a quartet that includes drummer
Brooke Sofferman
and pianist
Bevan Manson
. However, on
Melodic Miner's Daughter
the group is augmented on four tracks by saxophonist
George Garzone
, and whereas on
Book of Norman
Abby
stuck to bass and
Norm
to guitar, on this one they trade off on both instruments throughout the album. Both are excellent guitarists with very different voices:
's sweetly lyrical side is showcased on the first movement of their
"Canadian Suite,"
a gorgeous piece in which her classical guitar plays a gentle, pastoral melody with a softly swinging
jazz
accompaniment; on the second movement,
"CBC at Night,"
takes over on guitar and plays a more abstract and harmonically challenging part. That kind of interplay and exchange continues throughout the album, which consists mainly of original compositions but also includes a fine rendition of
"My Funny Valentine,"
which
sings winningly. Like their first album,
is a warm and inviting expression of a highly sophisticated
conception -- and musicians who can balance those two elements this well are rare indeed. Here's hoping we don't have to wait another five years for the next one. ~ Rick Anderson