Apparently Nichols had a relationship that he was unable to get over and his song “Portrait of Ucha”, in Baker’s hands (literally) is in imbued with the pathos of such a relationship – from the melody that vacillates between joy and melancholy to the classical style in which Baker approaches it. Finally, the title track “Spinning Song” is a dense puzzler, following its own path. Baker injects filigrees and small sweeps of folksy wisdom in the jagged melody, but there is also an alluring impenetrability.
Like the Monk album from last year, this is another must hear. While finger-pickers may salivate over the clean shifting bass lines and clever fills, everyone can enjoy the thoughtful and thorough arrangements of the tunes.