This reunion of venerable buddies Mark Winkler and David Benoit is what long time kindred spirits are supposed to feel like-putting on an old pair of slippers; warm and comfortable. The West Coast Cool vocalist and smooth jazz pianist do a series of duets that are reminiscent of the classic Tony Bennett/Bill Evans collection, as well as a collection of small group meetings with Gabe Davis/b, Clayton Cameron/dr, Pat Kelley/g, Stefanie Fife/cel and Kevin Winard/perc. Then weave together originals compositions with some overlooked gems by hip singer/songwriters, making for a colorful tapestry of tunes.
In the group settings, Winkler gives a peppy feel to the PCH sounding “I’ve Got Just About Everything” while adding extra lyrics with suave nuance to Benoit’s cadence on “Better Than Everything.” Kelley’s guitar and Davis’ bass give an extra blues feel to “When This Affair Is Over” and the team sounds folksy on their waltzing “Dragonfly”. Winkler plays his role well as he acts out the lyrics with cellist Fife on Randy Newman’s “I Think It’s Going To Rain Today” while getting intimate on Paul Simon’s “Old Friends/Bookends, and Benoit delivers a classy intro to “In A Quiet Place.”
But the real draw are the duets, with the version here of “Some Other Time” comparing well with the Bennett/Evans version, the two sounding late night nor on “Sweet Kentucky Ham” and Winkler getting vulnerable on “Two For The Road” while the penetrate deep emotions on “I Wish I’d Met You.” Classy and classic. I’ve seen Winkler many times in concerts, and like his albums, he’s like the Barone’s Pizza of vocalists-he never lets you down.