Into the Sky
SOLEA MUSICA
Solea Musica is a dynamic duo of instructors at Manatee Community College (classical guitarist Rex Willis and pianist Melodie Dickerson), and Into the Sky is a disc of instrumental improvisations between the two. But don't expect hot-swinging jazz rhythms on the album; rather, Sky is a collection of soft, stately pieces that border on, but never quite cross, into easy-listening territory. That may sound awful (who wants anything even near EL?), but trust me, it's not. The album is subdued but never comatose, and while it might succeed more as background music than as a bold statement, Into the Sky often charms. 2.5 stars
This article appears in Oct 24-30, 2007.