Bernstein in Vienna

The inimitable drummer Peter Erskine and his excellent company celebrate the work of Leonard Bernstein, where his fondness for Vienna is front and center across these 8 in depth songs.

The frisky "Somewhere" starts the set started with Erskine's fluid drums amid Danny Grissett's glowing keys and Andreas Varady's warm guitar, and "I Feel Pretty" follows with a playful spirit via Bertl Mayer's upbeat harmonica and Robert Unterkofler's lively sax.

"Viennese Summer" occupies the middle spot and radiates a distinct intimacy thanks to the melodic keys and meticulous drums, while "Lonely Town" showcases Danny Ziemann's precise bass alongside the spirited guitar.

"Some Other Time" and "Cool" exit the listen, where the former is an introspective moment of beauty and grace via the cautious instrumentation, and the latter is a stylish and animated finish of bouncy keys, soulful brass, a dynamic rhythm section and Cozy Friedel's violin acrobatics.

The sound quality here is fantastic, where Erskine plays an all brass set of drums, and the company he keeps help make for a cultured, jazz fueled night that touches on blues and pop music, too.