Jackson Garrett - Speechless (2010)

Jackson Garrett Speechless is a unique album in the sense that the artist featured in the title is not the one playing the music. Jackson Garrett wrote all twelve compositions on Speechless but the music is performed by a group of talented musicians.

The music on this album is diverse. There is the contemporary feel of Just one more time, with horn harmonies reminiscent of the rock group Chicago and nice piano runs by Marty Steele. You may also find the latin feel of the tracks Around and around or Slowdown with rhythms that invites you to dance.

Tracks like Cool and easy has a more classic jazz feel to it, and even the melody reminds me of standards like Round Midnight. We gotta go also feels like classic jazz, this time the arrangements are reminiscent of the Big Band sound era.

The bass and piano intro lead us to the bossa feel of Kisses all around and Downtown with you sounds like vintage blues with Steve Madaio superb bluesy feeling on trumpet. Speechless is a collection of enjoyable, well written compositions in a diversity of styles. -- Wilbert Sostre