David Ehrlin and Neff Irizarry: ‘Softly Light’

The new album - ‘Softly Light’ - from David Ehrlin and Neff Irizarry is a sumptuous and reflective collection of tunes that bring together these wonderful players in a quartet setting. 

Azul Y Oro (Blue and Gold) begins the album and establishes the quartet and individuals with a swinging melody and improvisations that allow each player space for expression. 

The tone is set for the album and the following, title track is a gentle ballad that softly creates an atmosphere of tranquillity.

Throughout Softly Light, that duo sits in a collective unity alongside the bass and drums. Once we reach Baltic Love Song, the sax/guitar duo of the two leaders shows them coming together creatively. Similarly, on Blue in Green, where the two improvise melodies that interweave and the quartet brings these ideas together.

There is a dignity about Grand Grandfather with a lyrical sax melody and a range of melodic lines. The Brazilian upbeat Fundas da Paixão (The Depths of Passion) is followed by the closing track, an extended version of Blue in Green. This final track exemplifies perfectly the delicacy and intricacy of the quartet and their tunes on Softly Light.

Irizarry and Ehrlin are releasing singles from Softly Light’ running up the full album release on Soothe Sounds Australia on 6 November