‘Something About Her’ is the latest album from Parisian-born, acoustic guitarist MARC ANTOINE. For Marc, the album is really special. You see, it’s a celebration of his 25th wedding anniversary and Mrs A (Rebeca, I believe) will, I’m sure, be delighted with this little sonic anniversary present, which is brimming over with gentle, laid-back, romantic mood music.
The album’s title track is a good yard stick – a gentle, assuaging bossa nova while the titles of other tunes announce what to expect – ‘Groovy Sunday’, ‘Velvet Night’, ‘Californian Haze’, ‘Summer In Technicolor’ and ‘Still In Love’ – which, it’s clear, Marc is! Yes, it’s all rather predictable but that’s the nature of smooth jazz and in a world becoming more topsy-turvy by the day what’s wrong with the reassurance of the predictable?
Helping Marc deliver his paean to wedded bliss are “names” like David Benoit (his crystalline piano is always a delight), Brian Simpson, Philippe Saisse and Marion Meadows. The album closes with a lovely homage – not to his wife – but to his grandaughter, Sasha and ‘Song For Sasha’ is a sweet album closer on which Marc channels his inner Earl Klugh.
MARC ANTOINE; ‘Something About Her’ out now on Shanachie
