July 16, 2018. Lynne Arriale has a special relationship with the piano. It’s apparent as soon as you hear a few bars of her playing on Give Us These Days. Double bassist Jasper Somsen and drummer Jasper van Hulton add the magic that makes this album distinct.
The recording contains six original compositions by Lynne and each encompasses a different mood, from dreamy to daring. The title track builds around some theatrics on van Hulten’s end. “Over and Out” is an up-tempo romp that could easily serve as a strong encore at a live performance.
While no standards were selected for this recording, the songs Lynne chose to arrange are interesting and eclectic. Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” is arranged in a super-percussive manner that makes it almost unrecognizable as as pop original. Lynne’s treatment of “Let It Be” is beautiful and true to the melody.
The stunner on Give Us These Days is a guest appearance by vocalist Kate McGarry, who joins Lynne in an adaptation of the Tom Waits’ tune “Take It With Me.” They didn’t stray far from Tom’s delivery, and definitely treated the composition with respect.
Over the year, Lynne Arriale has played many different types of music with her own touch and presence. This album shows that the Arriale touch can work wonders, even on the most unexpected selections.