Koven Trio serves up sweet jazz on his new CD ‘The Sound of Songs’
Posted Nov 16, 2008

On this latest release, the band is in its usual fine form, offering up nine, original sweet tunes composed by Koven.  The opening strains of the title track lead with a beautiful String Quartet arrangement by Clutton, before shifting into a swinging groove.  Track No. 2, Mr. Springer, is a more laid-back affair. It’s built around a toe-tapping island vibe that will make you feel as if you should have a margarita in hand and a gentle Caribbean breeze at your back.  From that, the CD takes a turn to the reflective with Cameo, a sort of musical massage that evokes images of relaxing in a favourite lounge chair, a cup of hot chocolate in hand, while looking out the window on a cold winter’s day.  Next up is Crawfish, think New Orleans dance shuffle with a bit of extra smoothness, thanks to special guest Kenny Kirkwood’s saxophone stylings.  The trio then slide their way through the jaunty The Universe Loves Lily and Little Dance, the latter emphasizing some moody piano runs from Koven’s deft fingers.  Koven and friends next get down and dirty on the self-explanatory Bungalow Blues. Kirkwood features once again, this time in a more fiery sax display throughout the arrangement.  On the eighth track, Honey-Do, the trio’s back at it with some fun, free-flowing swing-Jazz.  As if laying a child to bed, Koven gently closes out the album with Faith’s Dream, which, as the title suggests, is a dreamy, meditative affair that moves to a slow waltz-like rhythm.  The Sound of Songs was recorded at Inception Sound in Toronto in June and is out on the Bungalow Records and Steve KovenMusic label.

-- ANDY LEVY-AJZENKOPF