A Viberatto

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A Viberatto

featuring Garth Hudson, Tony Levin and more! Up for another change of pace? Every once in a while (okay, hardly ever) something really different shows up on my desk, and this is a fine example. Though Jimmy "Lonesome" Goodman has done his time in the trenches in rock bands, here he wields the vibraphone, as well as piano, bass and drums. Recorded in Leopard Studio (Goodman's studio) in nearby Stone Ridge, fine musicians Jane Scarpantoni (cello), Ross Rice (piano), Chris Macci (bass) Scot Hanna (percussion) and Nat Russell (guitars) all chime in here. Goodman offers a series of one word-titled songs. "Beautiful" has the simplest short theme, haunting vibes, with the piano taking the melody this time. "Flight" sounds fuller and even has a drum kit bashing out a backbeat. The slowly melting "Glacier" is a highlight. "After" is dark and mysterious, sneaking around the alleys after midnight, while "Night" has a timeless jazz sensibility that transcends expectations. A great effort that can call no comparisons, Goodman has outdone himself here. -David Malachowski