SUGO MUSIC GROUP

After staying away from standards on Red Reflections and Penumbra, Dmitri Matheny made them a high priority on his third album, Starlight Café (which was recorded live at La Note Café in Berkeley, CA in March 1998). The most accessible CD he had done so far, Starlight Cafe finds the Bay Area flugelhornist celebrating his romantic side and offering some highly soulful mood music. Those who were introduced to Matheny with his very cerebral debut album, Red Reflections, will experience a much different side of him on this cool jazz effort, which favors the sensuous over the abstract. Forming an intimate, drumless trio with pianist Darrell Grant and bassist Bill Douglass, Matheny is at his most lyrical on Marian McPartland's "Twilight World" and sentimental, personal versions of "Corcovado," "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Stardust." Meanwhile, "Geneva" and "Whisper, Muse" are gently reflective Matheny originals that work quite well in this romantic setting.

Song List: Stardust, 2. When Lights Are Low, 3. Twilight World, 4. Spring Skylight, 5. Whisper-Muse, 6. Geneva, 7. Soca Nova, 8. Corcovado, 9. Saturn's Child, 10. When You Wish Upon A Star