The Midnight Blues is the fifth installment in his ongoing
Standard Time series, where he offers his own interpretations of classic American pop, jazz and blues songs. Supported by pianist
Eric Reed, bassist
Reginald Veal and drummer
Lewis Nash, as well as a 31-piece string orchestra, he runs through a number of standards -- "The Party's Over," "It Never Entered My Mind," "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home," "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" and "My Man's Gone Now" -- which are arranged and conducted by Bob Freedman,
Marsalis' longtime collaborator. The album falls somewhere between
Hot House Flowers and one of the early volumes of
Standard Time, as it has a lush sound but remains quite idiosyncratic and quietly adventurous in its arrangements. The result is a lovely, albeit minor, addition to
Marsalis' rich catalog. ~ Leo Stanley