On recordings with friends and small bands Steve Howell defies the stereotype of the Austin musician. With a reputation as an unusually musical city, Austin has its share of rock and country bands, but it is most prominently associated with singer-songwriters. A handful are distinguished, while others are of no particular interest (as far as I can tell from their recordings anyway). The designation "Austin singer-songwriter" doesn't reflexively excite me.

Neither a rocker nor a singer-songwriter, Howell is the genuine article, a true roots artist and a jazz-influenced guitarist also grounded in folk and blues traditions. (I have reviewed three of his previous albums in this space on 21 November 2015, 14 July 2018 and 24 August 2019.) With fellow guitarist Dan Sumner and bassist Jason Weinheimer, Howell narrows his focus on Long Ago to the American Songbook. The trio offers up spare, intimate readings of tunes, most of them composed in the pre-rock 'n' roll 20th century. The recording is much in the spirit of Willie Nelson's classic Stardust (1978). Though the latter had a much bigger budget, Long Ago proves to be just as engaging a listening experience.

As always Howell's vocals are at once understated and powerful, the words of a man who gives the impression of -- I guess there's no other word for it -- wisdom. I am familiar with Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love," covered by other exceptional vocalists (I first heard it on a Fred Neil record). Until now, though, I had failed to grasp Mayfield's nuanced, multi-layered meaning, centered on the simple word "peace." In this version Howell finds the song within the song.

I experience much the same with the concluding cut, Johnny Mercer & Jimmy Van Heusen's "I Thought About You." I'd heard the song before, more than once, but it never registered. This time, between the gently reflective vocal and the spectral arrangement, failure to listen attentively was not an option. This is a strikingly beautiful song, and from here on the Howell/Sumner/Weinheimer reading joins my list of all-time most favored tunes.