Yotam Silberstein: Standards Vol. 2

JOJO RECORDS (RELEASED APRIL 18, 2025)

Like last year’s Standards release, guitarist Yotam Silberstein has made more excellent choices in tunes and accompanists with the release of Standards Vol. 2. Recorded at the same session that yielded Standards, Silberstein and his trio (with the addition of legendary saxophonist George Coleman on one track) cover several jazz standards as well as often-overlooked evergreens from the Great American Songbook. Not to downplay the more than capable support of bassist John Patitucci and drummer Billy Hart, the most astonishing accompanist on this set (like on Standards) is Silberstein himself! He has the unique ability to accompany his fleet single line solos with lush chordal phrasing. He demonstrates that skill on medium swing tunes such as “Blue Gardenia” and “Love Thy Neighbor,” ballads such as “Just as Though You Were Here” and “Portrait of Jennie” even the jazz waltz “The Girl Next Door.” Silberstein punctuates his long blues lines with perfectly placed block chords on Sonny Red’s “Bluesville,” a tune that also features an extended solo from drummer Billy Hart. Born in Israel, Silberstein gives “Deliah” a more than appropriate Middle Eastern vibe with a mesmerizing opening played on the oud. George Coleman joins the band for a romp through Sonny Rollins’ “Tenor Madness.” Coleman, who recently received a Jazz Legacy Fellowship from the Mellon Foundation in cooperation with the Jazz Foundation of America is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Coleman and Silberstein have a brief duet section near the end of the tune before Patitucci’s takes another one of his lyrical solos on this session. Silberstein’s comping behind Patitucci solos are textbook examples of how to compliment rather than complicate the soloist. There’s a lot to enjoy on Standards Vol 2 — a wonderful selection of tunes, sensitive accompanists (included Silberstein himself), thoughtful solos and a cameo appearance from the great George Coleman. You can’t go wrong with Standard Vol 2., and If they don’t have enough material from the initial session to release a Standards Vol. 3, I suggest they head to the studio soon!

BOTTOM LINE: Perfectly chosen chords give way to lyrical single note solos. A solid bass line keeps the pulse until it’s time for a meticulously melodic solo. The drum adds the perfect rhythmic mood to everything from ballads to up-tempo swing tunes. While listening to guitarist Yotam Silberstein’s Standards Vol 2, I am reminded of the grace, charm and elegance of classic Red Garland trio recordings. It’s just that “delightful!”