Gentleman Of Leisure
Jesse Winchester has made such a good living writing songs for the likes ofWynonna Judd,Emmylou Harris, andReba McEntirethat he doesn't really have to make his own albums. In fact, the revealingly titledGentleman of Leisureis only his second album in 18 years. It was worth the wait, for it sounds like one ofLyle Lovett's late-1990s albums. There's the same dry, wry voice; the same weird mix of '40s swing, '60s R&B;, and '70s progressive country; and the same conversational lyrics that seem casual at first but contain memorable aphorisms. Lovett's Texas sensibility is replaced, though, by Winchester's Memphis roots, which are reinforced bySteve Cropper's presence on songs aboutElvisand a favorite soul-music club. ProducerJerry Douglashas also called in bluegrass guitar whiz Bryan Sutton, blues-guitar virtuosoMike Henderson, country starVince Gill, and gospel'sFairfield Four. Winchester's songwriting is the star attraction, though, thanks to music that marries hillbilly tunefulness to swampy Delta grooves and Zen lyrics that explore how love can strip us of pride and power and still make us strong.--Geoffrey Himes