Even though the vibraphone is the quintessential instrument of tonal cool, most often musicians play hot, sprinkling sparks with the flint of blazing bebop and hot-chili Latin. But thankfully vibes maestro Hutcherson takes a strikingly different approach on "For Sentimental Reasons," remarkably his first album as a leader in eight years. While Hutch swings on such tunes as "Don't Blame Me," his quieter, romantic fare like the title track and Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere" carries this 11-song session of standards. The latter tune is rendered by the leader and pianist Renee Rosnes, who, given their collaborations in the SF Jazz Collective, proves to be understatedly simpatico in her support role. Throughout, less is more and beauty outshines the velocity. Case in point, his end-song solo muse through "I'll Be Seeing You." —Dan Ouellette