Critic’s Choice: Petals of Spain, November 20 at the Larimer Lounge

Recalling the work of Donald Fagen or Jason Mraz, this band’s eclectic oeuvre is undergirded by jazz and R&B rhythms, with a bit of hip-hop thrown into the vocal melody here and there. And while initially Petals of Spain (due at the Larimer Lounge on Saturday, November 20) could be mistaken for a smooth-jazz outfit, the group’s exquisitely crafted pop ultimately has a cultivated sophistication rare in such music these days. Singer Nic Hammerberg’s voice has an expressive yet gentle melodicism, and the other players create a subtle dynamic that allows the lyrical phrasing to shine.