Justin Allison
Songs Of My Father

I'm not a huge fan of jazz. Some, I like. Some is so mind numbing I could get a tooth pulled without novocaine. Ok, I'm lying, but not by much. Justin Allison isn't mind numbing, and he does have a nice, light voice. He's background music, though, and here's why.

1. I carried on a five-minute conversation with my cousin, sitting 2 ft. away from the CD player, and didn't have the urge to turn the volume up or down even once.

2. I carried on a ten-minute phone conversation with a friend of mine and the same non-intrusive clause applied.

Aside from singing swell little ditties, Allison plays a swell guitar. Kind of an Earl Klugh meets the old standards sort of fare. Dinner music, if you're into that sort of thing.

I would find it difficult to put on this collection and actually listen. Sing along? Maybe. Most of the songs are familiar tunes by the likes of Cole Porter, Benny Carter and Charlie Parker. Likeable songs, pleasantly arranged. "Autumn Leaves" has a walking bass that takes this melody more up-tempo than I've heard, or than I prefer. "Don't Fence Me In," however, becomes more a contemplative piece than a statement of independence. I don't like all of his arrangements personally, but Allison makes them fresh -- and I don't claim to know good jazz from bad. I just know what I dig.

There are two songs by Clarence Allison, one co-written by son Justin. Like the rest of this collection, they were pleasant. Try this CD if you like pleasant, of if you know jazz and want to see how little knowledge I possess on the subject. If you have a different opinion, or any opinion at all, send it to the Excuse. We can always use new blood.

-Kate Rice

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