It’s a good day when new music arrives from the the sibling songwriting team of Don and Jeff Breithaupt. The Toronto-based Breithaupt Brothers have, over the years, worked with elite artists on both sides of the border. With Just Passing Through: The Breithaupt Songbook, Vol. II, they once again showcase an acumen with jazz, rock and what they all “modern standards.”
“Where’s Mantis Evar,” originally from Don Breithaupt’s group Monkey House, combines many elements of the duo’s writing modis operandi in a rock setting. The song, which originally appeared on Monkey House’s 2011 release Headquarters is a gem. Don Breithhaupt’s vocals are tasteful and smooth, highlighting the complex yet accessible lyrics of Jeff Breithaupt.
The music evokes the timeless West Coast ’80s vibe on a Pages or Toto album — an atmosphere only enhanced by the appearance of guitar player Drew Zingg. The former Steely Dan and sometime Boz Scaggs sideman steps in with a understated solo, highlighting the arrangement and production talents of Don Breithaupt, even while not stepping on Jeff’s lyrics.
It’s hard to imagine a more pleasant sound but the album Just Passing Through: The Breithaupt Brothers Songbook Vol. II is full of many such high points.
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