From the first moment of my first listen to "Small Talk," I couldn't help feeling that the music was both new and familiar at the same time. Many months later, I can still summarize it no better. This is an album with a diversity of sounds. At moments, I hear what sounds like Steve Laury influence; at other moments, I am reminded of Art Porter; and at still others, I feel I must be hearing pure Eric Essix. One track that makes me feel this way is "Smiles." There is something very special about that tune. Sometimes feeling flows from music, and sometimes music flows from feeling. "Smiles" seems like a case of the latter. I don't know how to distill my reactions any further. This release is VERY worth acquiring.