Jubilant Bridge, "Under Shattered Skies"

This CD makes one feel lifted on the back of a giant bird flying over a green valley. Jubilant Bridge is a trio comprised of Willie Jaeger, Carol Van Alstine and Scott Bennett. With one listen to this extremely well played and well sung CD it is obvious that these three have been working hard in the music realm for some time. The acoustic tunes are played with precision and sung with confidence and heart.

Ms. Van Alstine's lovely soprano lifts the trio into a heavenly space throughout the dozen songs on the CD and Mr. Jaegers passionate tenor drives them forward.

It's hard to know where to list the superlatives! "Before You Fly", written by Ms. Van Alstine is the first cut and is a sweet, soaring attention getting kind of song. "The Gambler" reminds me of the style of Peter, Paul and Mary. Mr. Jaeger's lead vocal is especially stirring.

"Shifting to Red", another original by Ms. Van Alstine, is one of those songs which could be enjoyed by the listener sung in any language -- the sound alone has so much appeal -- but the enjoyment is doubled by the clever lyric about trying to find a working radio station while driving all night;

"...No matter how often you switch stations
Crackling stars are all you hear
Voices tease you with names you will never know
They're playing songs popular light years before you were born
You can't sing along,
You press hard on the gas..."

"Independence Day", by Bruce Springsteen is nicely done, but to me, their strength is in their own songwriting.

"Pretend" is a sweet song about the games of young girls playing make believe -- again the lyrics are really fun;

"...We are Victorian girls
We are spies
Singing, laughing, running in our private lies
we are Victorian girls,
We are spies,
Singing, laughing, running for our crazy lives..."

The harmonies and musical accompaniment are just gorgeous. You out there in reader land may think I am over using gorgeous and beautiful but it aint so. These musicians are one with their craft, the years of practice and intuitive music making is more than evident.

"Soliloquy/Brothers in Arms" brings tears to my eyes -- Willie Jaeger's tenor voice is fluid and sincere.

"The Way He Phrased It", another gem by Carol Van Alstine has another heart provoking lyric;

"...He reminded me of who I once was
Reminded me of who I might be
Pictured what was in my heart
Painted scenes that set my mind free..."

At the end of the song she mentions seeing a painting in a gallery,

"The woman had worked in those fields every morning but heard the bird for the very first time."

(I want to ask Carol, was that painting "The Song of the Lark", by Jules Breton?)

Scott Bennetts' production of this album is painstaking and careful, and the result is an extremely satisfying journey into what music is all about, a journey into the beautiful. Thanks for the ride you guys, I loved it.