Yotam Silberstein

Standards Vol. 2

 Jojo

Israeli guitarist Yotam Silberstein returns with his second volume of standards, reprising last year’s cast of bassist John Patitucci and drummer Billy Hart — with tenor sax elder George Coleman on just one track instead of two as heard on Vol. 1. When they recorded the tracks for Vol. 1, they recorded enough for a second album’s worth of material, as presented here on Vol. 2. Silberstein attempted to cover the lesser-known ones here, and, in fact, there are only two that pop out from the program as highly recognizable:“Blue Gardenia,” “Answer Me My Love,” and Sonny Rollins’ “Tenor Madness,” the one track that notably features Coleman.

Generally, this is a very mellow, highly melodic album with little improvisation, but a few tweaks to these songs in terms of rhythm and even instrumentation.  “Blue Gardenia” by Lester Lee and Bob Russell, most famously associated with Nat King Cole, and the 1953 film of the same name, goes a little more up tempo from the usual ballad in this trio’s rendition, which in addition to the leader’s stellar fret work, also features a pizzicato turn from Patitucci.  John Benson Brooks’ “Just As Though You Were Here” features the guitarist strumming a series of lush chords more so than his melodic not picking heard on the former. The rhythm tandem is especially sensitive with Hart on brushes in a tune that Silberstein learned from his high school teacher, in that sense an homage to him. The mood changes drastically as the warm tones of Coleman’s tenor introduce “Tenor Madness,” which was a spontaneous, unplanned part of the program.  Coleman just started blowing the melody and the trio joined in.  As we’ve commented in other reviews, the octogenarian Coleman still has that natural swing and swagger.

Silberstein displays sharp picking on Harry Revel and Mack Gordon’s “Love Thy Neighbor” which he found through John Coltrane’s version, which appears on 1963’s Stardust. Again, as on many of these, Patitucci shows his chops on a melodic solo as well. We then settle into sublime balladry on Gerhard Winkler’s “Answer Me My Love,” sung by everyone from Nat King Cole to Joni Mitchell to Bing Crosby.  This pattern of the second three tracks mirrors the first three as Sonny Red’s “Bluesville” has the trio returning with swinging energy.

The strings sound different on Victor Young’s “Delilah,” from Cecil B. DeMille’s 1949 film Samson and Delilah, as Silberstein plays the Middle Eastern oud, as he felt that the tune naturally had a fair share of Middle Eastern strains. J. Russel Robinson’s “Portrait of Jennie” is a “tribute to Wes Montgomery, the iconic guitarist which so many hold in high esteem. It also features some nice arco work from the bassist. A record of this type almost naturally has to include some aspect of Montgomery. In his effort to unearth rare gems, Silberstein found the mid-tempo ballad, Harry Barris’s “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams,” on Bill Evans’ 1963 Interplay, on which the trio subtly swings. The closer is “Girl Next Door,” a gender-reversed version of Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine’s 1944 popular song “The Boy Next Door,” from the 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Silberstein’s rationale for this selection was that it is in 3/4, while most others are in the usual 4/4.

Again, this is an easy one on the ears with personnel at the highest level. It makes me, and probably those of you reading, to also seek out Vol. 1.

– Jim Hynes

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter