Review: ‘Softly’ strikes pleasant, if short, key

“SOFTLY” By Andrew Benton

Upcoming gigs: None locally

Air Force Academy Band musicians are among the state’s best. So it’s a pleasant surprise to hear one on his own, doing what he loves best — which is the case with “Softly,” a recent solo piano CD by Andrew Benton.

“Softly” is true to its title. It’s low-key enough to serve as dinner music, but artful enough to reward close listening.

The 10 songs range from J.S. Bach to Britney Spears yet they hang together, unified by Benton’s contemplative, subtle approach. The songs are mostly slow, and even the occasional up-tempo number — such as the Armstrong, Pritchard and Wright “Good Riddance” — is played with a light, subdued tone.

Among the highlights are a Gymnopédie by Eric Satie — not the famous one, but just as beautiful — and the Berryman, Buckland, Champion and Martin “Clocks,” with its easy swing and hypnotic rhythms. Benton even had me humming a Burt Bacharach tune for the first time since about 1969 — the haunting “Painted from Memory.”

Benton’s piano arrangements are diverse. Some, such as Sting’s “St. Agnes and the Burning Train,” sound completely worked out; others, such as John Mayer’s “Daughters,” have a loose, improvisational feel.

But as Benton shows in his new violin melody to Bach’s C-major Prelude — beautifully performed by Michael Hanson, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s concertmaster — he can get that improvisational feel even when writing a part out. (This is the CD’s only nonsolo track.)

Producer Steve Barta has done an excellent job getting a close, intimate sound from a great-sounding Steinway.

About the only quibble would be the CD’s length: At 37 minutes, “Softly” comes to an end too soon.

The songs are available for download from iTunes, Napster, and Rhapsody, or as an entire CD from cdbaby.com/cd/andrewbenton. Or e-mail Benton at drewbdrew@msn.com.