16 October 2009
Jazz Chicago.net
Brad Walseth

Another lush and beautiful recording from Naim and recording engineer Ken Christiansen, Since Forever was recorded at Northwestern's Pick-Staiger Hall and features pianist Fred Simon - known for his work on the Windham Hill label and collaborations with people like Kurt Elling, Larry Coryell and the group Oregon. Here, he is joined by two members of Oregon, saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Paul McCandless and drummer/percussionist Mark Walker, as well as bassist Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny), who also produced the album, in performing Simon's compositions. Weaving elements from classical, jazz, world music and folk and pop into a tableau that shifts seamlessly from bright and bouncy ("Since Forever" - dedicated to Pete Seeger, "I Know You Know," "What's the Magic Word") to melancholic ("Even in the Evening" - dedicated to Simon's late sister, a version of Joe Zawinul's classic "In A Silent Way") to thematic (the album-ending "Beginning/Middle/End"). These piano-centered compositions have a bit of a New Age feel to them, but with a jazz and pop sensibility and enhanced by the great playing from all involved (Simon and McCandless especially shine) and the audiophile analogue recording which captures both the warmth and sheen wonderfully. Contemplative music for long winter nights ahead.