Album Review: An Adventurous Dream

Marlbank

April 2024

Following swiftly on from the more 1970s themed Shaw singersongwritery of Greek Street Friday, our vocals album of the year in 2023 — here on this excellent live album, however much it contrasts, is no disappointment.

The bonus factor is the live feeling you gain, ably captured in the album's top of the tree sonics. And partly it's also the focus. After all An Adventurous Dream concentrates on some of the crown jewels of a century-plus of jazz in terms of composition, repertoire and the art of the song.

Kofi is best on Isfahan and Blood Count, showing the rigour of his instrumentalism and discipline of his approach most exactingly.

The album title borrows from the lyric to Ellington and Strayhorn song Something To Live For, introduced to the canon by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra in 1939 and covered by many down the years including notably by Carmen McRae on a 1956 release, Nina Simone and Ella in the 1960s, the great Nat King Cole influenced easy listening singer Johnny Mathis in 1990 and the marvellous Jane Monheit in the early 21st century.