If Jill Detroit’s last release, “No Man’s Land,” was an ode to existentialism, her latest release “Little Feet” takes a distinctly spiritual and sentimental turn; maybe the result of all the solitude and soul-searching? Jill and producer/arranger/recording engineer/musician Bill Bentley deliver ten musical delicacies enfolded in the unique, exquisite gift wrapping we’ve come to expect from this inspired pair. This album, the ninth release in just over 3 years from this prolific artist, opens with “Everyday Choices,” a song Jill co-wrote with composer Mark Shaltz, and one that captivates the listener with a lyrical simplicity that belies its underlying morale that every decision we make, whether major or seemingly insignificant, defines us. This musical treasure is followed by the upbeat, delightful “Riverside Park,” a song that fills the autobiographical slot we’ve come to expect on each Jill Detroit album as she takes us back to her childhood, growing up in a small town in Indiana where days (and some nights) were filled with adventures at the park down by the river. “Stay Around,” is a one-of-a-kind song, written by Jill’s former band-mate, Bill Simpson, whose performance leaves the audience wanting more from this talented, soulful singer. Jill and Bill are joined on the choruses by their daughter, Emily (Simpson) Cimino, one of Jill’s favorite back-up singers, who has been featured prominently on previous Jill Detroit releases: most notably on the duet “Mother and Daughter” from Jill’s “Life of My Choosing” album and the classic “Do We Need Love,” from “No Man’s Land,” that also featured Jill’s son, Sean Phillips. Quite the musical family here. The adorable “Little Feet,” is pure toe-tapping Americana, with harmonies by the Jill-ettes and instrumentation that are simply charming. The sentimental mood takes a spiritual turn in “Come to the Water,” a haunting new-age hymn, with a musical track that epitomizes the supportive, respectful arrangements and performances we’ve come to expect from Bill Bentley and the kind of lyrical and vocal excellence that make this a paradigmatic Jill Detroit composition. Next up is the touching ballad “Daddy,” a true work of art, from its rich orchestration to a soaring emotional vocal performance that firmly establishes this artist as one of today’s truly outstanding singer-songwriters. This timeless song gives way to the catchy “I Can’t See You Again,” with a Stevie-Wonder-Burt Bacharach-inspired flavor that demonstrates the musical versatility of the Detroit-Bentley partnership. “Silent Partner” is a classic Jill Detroit spin on relationships as she takes an honest look at her role as one half of a couple. The stripped-down music track perfectly complements the soul-searching lyrics as well as Jill’s pristine vocal performance. This song evolves seamlessly into “You Already Know,” with a slightly Renaissance feel that epitomizes the originality of the instrumental tracks we’ve come to crave from Mr. Bentley and perfectly supports Jill’s effortless vocal. The final song on this album is “Surrender,” in which we find Jill confessing to a crisis of faith that culminates in a complete acceptance of her own powerlessness as she turns her life over to a greater power. This masterpiece is a fitting addition to the soul-searching theme of this latest release from a singer-songwriter whose unparalleled output of original music is inspiring. At the risk of sounding like a “broken record,” credit goes to Bill Bentley, whose creativity and expertise at both performing and engineering lovingly support the artist and the authenticity of the song above all. Mr. Bentley is a rare producer who reveres the essence of each song and provides the perfect frame for one of the outstanding singer-songwriters of the era. Thank you to the planets that aligned to bring this pair together so they can gift the world with their talents.