Pianist and arranger David Ian has already proven his mastery of Christmas with two recordings for the holidays, so it perhaps stands to reason that he eventually focused his lens elsewhere. Valentine’s Day was just the ticket, another day marked by love.
Of course, the love found on this day of cards and roses is of a different sort, and Ian’s approach acknowledged the romance and cool that still packs restaurants every year on February 14. As with 2013’s Vintage Christmas Wonderland, Ian’s choice of textures placed Valentine’s Day in vintage territory without sacrificing any nods at modernity. And as with that EP, this disc featured an impressive array of guest vocalists like Kevin Max, Acacia and Talitha Walters-Wulfing. Ian’s band includes John Estes (bass), Josh Hunt (drums), Elizabeth Estes (violin), and Matt Nelson (cello).
David Ian’s unabashed love for the cool sounds of the classics shined through in every way on this record. He pulled songs like “My Funny Valentine” and “Someday My Prince Will Come” right into the now and did so without sacrificing original integrity. He made romance romantic again, doing away with modern cynicism in favor of encapsulating that gaze and that caress between people in love.
It made sense that the cover of Valentine’s Day featured a couple exploring records together. Much in the same way Ian’s Christmas albums seem made for sharing over the holiday season, this disc seemed made for sharing over champagne and low lighting.
There was the beautiful “Stella by Starlight” to that end, a lush and contemporary presentation of the standard. And there was “Summertime,” the Gershwin tune that benefitted from a bouncing snap-beat and Estes’ hot bass-playing. Once Walters-Wulfing gets into the mix, though, the temperature vaulted. This track simply scorches. David Ian’s ivories meshed with Estes’ decision to switch to the bow and the number slowed to a sweaty crawl.
From the lusty to the lovely, David Ian’s Valentine’s Day explored the contours of romance and romantic moods. It also left room for the solitary among us, with Acacia’s turn on “Solitude” evoking the sadness and lonesomeness also associated with such a day. Taken together, this album eased smoothly through its 36 or so minutes like a well-selected wine.
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- David Ian’s ‘Valentine’s Day’ Made Romance Romantic Again - February 14, 2019
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