Any Time Leon Redbone Blue Thumb Records, 2001 Buy it online Reviewed by David Middleton	There are few performers these days who can evoke a certain era as vividly as Leon Redbone. On his latest album, Any Time, Redbone's throaty, mumble-mouthed delivery and reinterpretation of turn-of-the-century and Depression-era ragtime and folk-jazz songs become a testament to his great love for a time when melody was king and electric instruments weren't yet a thought. With his 1975 debut, On the Track, Redbone established himself as somewhat of an oddity in the music business, taking mostly pre-World War II songs and imbuing them with what can only be thought of as Redbone's unique style and humor. After 11 albums he continues to capture and promote the essence of what popular music used to be, long before sophisticated recording techniques such as multiple tracks, overdubbing and sampling became standard practice. Redbone manages to keep these classic songs sounding fresh while staying surprisingly true to the period from which they were first produced. The 13 songs on Any Time are filled with Redbone's laid-back charm without ever falling into clichéd or hackneyed parody. Listening to such classics as "All I Do Is Dream Of You," "Louisiana Fairytale," "Sittin' On Top Of The World" and "Moonlight Bay," you fully believe that Leon Redbone has been snatched from a kinder, gentler and not-so-distant past and placed here in this time just to remind us that there was once such a thing as time to relax. All of the songs use only a minimum of instrumentation, sticking to guitar, piano, fife, sax, banjo, trombone, clarinet, harmonica, coronet, tuba, drums and bass, keeping arrangements simple but surprisingly lush. Especially touching is the Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger composition "Blossoms On Broadway." Redbone turns this ode to New York into an intimate and tender tribute to the big apple, which these days seems entirely appropriate. The combination of Alan Gout's poignant piano and Leon's intimate delivery make this a real bright spot on the album. In all, Any Time is more than just an album of old songs. More than just a nostalgic trip to yesteryear. It's really more like the revisiting of old feelings and memories long past but not entirely forgotten that, when remembered, can't but make you smile. | April 2002   David Middleton is the art director of Blue Coupe magazine and occasionally likes to dress up in a white linen suit and hat and stroll along 'neath the shade of the sycamores with a mint julep in hand.	Tracks: 1: Any Time 2: If You Knew 3: Ain't Gonna Give You None Of My Jelly Roll 4: All I Do Is Dream Of You 5: Louisiana Fairytale 6: So Tired Of Livin' All Alone 7: Sittin' On Top Of The World 8: Sweet Substitute 9: Blossoms On Broadway 10: In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree 11: Sweet Lorraine 12: Moonlight Bay 13: Your Feets Too Big