# CD review: The Lost Melody – New Songs For Old Souls 2020: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2020/05/03/cd-review-the-lost-melody-new-songs-for-old-souls-2020-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2020-05-03T15:49:45+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**After nearly 20 years of performing and recording together under our individual
names, we have renamed our trio “The Lost Melody.” This change from frontman to 
collective reflects what we love about our long-developed approach: a trio of equals.**

At the same time, we have shifted our focus away from playing jazz standards toward
our own original music, compelled to champion “melody first” in both improvisation
and composition. The result is a collection of new songs influenced by the great
melodic craftsmen of the 20th century: New Songs for Old Souls.

The theme this week, if you haven’t noticed, is small jazz ensembles with members
who have been performing with each other for years. Pianist Joe Davidian, bassist
Jamie Ousley and drummer Austin McMahon have been together for twenty years, playing
as the Joe Davidian Trio. This is their first album with their new name, The Lost
Melody, a step taken to show how this piano trio has evolved over the last few years.
What’s even more interesting is the title of their new album, New Songs for Old 
Souls.

During the first listen, I assumed The Lost Melody was comprised of three young 
men tackling selections from the Great American Songbook, and for the most part 
I thought that was an excellent idea that really paid off. On closer inspection,
however, I discovered that these ten tracks are original compositions made to_ sound_
like old standards, and that’s even more impressive. (It’s also something that would
be difficult for journeymen to pull off.) It also helps that each of these three
musicians has also played the role of bandleader, so there’s an undeniable wisdom
at work in these arrangements.

Despite the new moniker, however, The Lost Melody is centered around Joe Davidian’s
piano. It’s the first thing you hear, the first thing you feel, and his style is
remarkable for its wide tonal range. _New Songs for Old Souls_ is made up of beautiful
melodies and strong themes, yet Davidian’s piano stands out for being plush and 
full and for carrying much of the energy. The rhythm section doesn’t exactly blend
into the scenery–both Ousley and McMahon are dynamic and sure-footed and they really
know how to evoke the performances of the legends. Much of sound of The Lost Melody
reminds me of a Bill Evans trio–you can’t help but notice what Evans is doing on
the keyboard, but he only shared a stage with the best.

I’m still not sure why these jazz releases come in waves that reflect certain sub-
genres–Brazilian jazz, big band, organ trios, etc.–but I’m always up for a brilliant
piano trio recording because those three instruments can fill out a landscape like
few others. The Lost Melody is absolutely convincing when it comes to the novel 
idea of inventing and performing lost classics–it takes a lot of intelligence and
experience to pull something like this off.

01. Leaving Montserrat
 02. Sol 03. Won’t You Sing This Song for Me? 04. A Minor
Waltz 05. Ready or Not 06. When First We Met 07. Before I Forget (Live) 08. A Sea
of Voices 09. If I Didn’t Need You 10. Sometime, Somehow

**Joe Davidian: piano**
 **Jamie Ousley: bass** **Austin McMahon: drums**

![](https://i1.wp.com/parttimeaudiophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lm.jpg?resize
=940%2C837&ssl=1)

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