Sky Trails

Album review

With an unexpected vigor, David Crosby's late-career renaissance continues as he delivers Sky Trails, his third solo effort in four years. Arriving hot on the heels of 2016's Michael League-produced Lighthouse, Sky Trails splits the difference between its predecessor's spare acoustic ruminations and the singer/songwriter's fascination with jazz. Produced by his multi-instrumentalist son, James Raymond, much of this set brandishes a full band as Crosby and his collaborators explore Steely Dan-style grooves on the funky opener, "She's Got to Be Somewhere," or politicized jazz-folk on the harmony-stacked "Capitol." On the gentler, more introspective side, piano ballads like "Before Tomorrow Falls on Love" and the excellent "Home Free" distinctively recall the mid-'70s experimental heyday of longtime friend and peer Joni Mitchell, whose gorgeous "Amelia" Crosby faithfully covers here. Tonally and instrumentally, quite a bit of Sky Trails shares a kinship with Mitchell masterpieces like Hejira and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, utilizing fretless bass, jazz piano, soprano sax, and unconventional chord structures. On the folkier side, another highlight is the lovely acoustic title cut, co-written and co-sung by North Carolina singer/songwriter Becca Stevens. As a whole, Crosby touches on a number of pleasing themes and sounds on Sky Trails, lending his sweet tenor and trademark harmonies to material of surprisingly high quality given his recent prolificacy.

© Timothy Monger /TiVo