"In Between" by Rob Lee Thompson

Following up his "Do We Look Back?" single (which I reviewed for you back last month), Rob Lee Thompson today shares with us "In Between".

Clearly his family means a great deal to him & indeed shapes aspects of his music: just as "You're The One" came out on his wife's birthday, so this one has been timed to coincide with the tenth one of his youngest son: so "Happy Birthday!" to him. Not many people I guess get their day marked in quite that fashion.

Once again Tom Haines composed the music and plays drums, with his other frequent collaborators Alex Thompson (on Rhodes piano), Mike Green (double bass) and Chris Proctor playing saxophone support Rob's vocals.

Less of a crooning tune than its predecessor, "In Between" is a sharp & tight groove with Rob moving in a Mel Tormé direction from the Tony Bennett stylings I felt I detected last time out and demonstrates once again (it's a characteristic of this combo) the taste as well as proficiency of the players in keeping it taut & allowing plenty of space to enter the arrangement, casting more attention on each element, especially the vocals as Rob muses & philosophises on life as he sees it and suggests how it might be better enjoyed by seeking out the nuances. There is a great economical sax solo & I especially liked the crisp drum sound they achieved too.

You can catch it too on the current "Hot Music Live Presents" Spotify playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3oCggbP6HwfZDqaI2vNUtn?si=367291e6e8974015