Though all ten delectably soulful, elegant and groovy tracks on jazz singer Jeffrey Gimble’s second album Brand New Key were penned by influential songwriters of various eras in the 20th century, he brings so much charm and cool swagger to each it’s as if they’re a mosaic narrative of his own personal journey.
Whether he’s bringing fresh bluesy, snappy and sensual wit to Melanie’s early 70’s novelty gem (the otherworldly title track), turning The Mamas & the Papas’ harmony filled delight “Somebody Groovy” into a funky jazz stomper or mining fresh romantic eloquence and plucky swing from Rodgers & Hart’s “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,” Gimble’s dark, richly emotional vocal molasses warms the heart and soothes the soul in surreal ways the composers could never have imagined.
Those gems are just the start of a stylistically expansive set that includes a seductive bossa vocal in perfectly phrased Portuguese “A Ra (A Frog)” and a sizzling, 60s-70’s funk-soul jam of the 20’s standard “Bye Bye Blackbird.” Fittingly, he closes with a Jimmy Rowles tune (“Music’s the Only Thing That’s On My Mind”) that truly reflects his own lifelong affinity for the art form – performed as a stylish duet with guitarist Larry Koonse.
The album’s piece de resistance, however, is his intimate, dreamlike twist on Roberta Flack’s socially conscience 1969 gem “Tryin Times,” originally recorded by Roberta Flack. Making perfect sense of the world now as then, it also serves as a tribute to the recently departed soul legend. In addition to Koonse, helping bring Gimble’s visionary twists to life are L.A. greats, pianist/producer Josh Nelson, bassist Dan Lutz and drummer Dan Schnelle.
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