Soul Shadows by Joe Sample

If you heard ?The Texas Two Step? from his previous release The Pecan Tree and hoped that Joe Sample would do an entire recording of music like that, you’re in luck. Sample has released a solo piano recording called Soul Shadows, which features ten jazz chestnuts. The songs include Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” Ellington’s “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good,” Gershwin’s “Embraceable You” and “I Got Rhythm,” Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Jitterbug Waltz,” Morton’s “Shreveport Stomp” (which I believe he performs in concert), and Jolson’s “Avalon.” Already cemented as a legend in jazz, I found myself still in awe of Sample?s talent. He has the ability to play these challenging pieces and make it sound like it?s easy work. Unbelievable dexterity. Also included in the collection are renditions of his compositions ?Spellbound? and ?Soul Shadows.? Although there are no vocals, the lyrics to the latter are reprinted in the liner notes. They perfectly fit this release, another jewel in the awesome Sample discography.