Here's a question for you: what albums, bands or artists would you classify as "jazz folk"? My pet theory is that, while lots of music could fall under the separate umbrellas of "jazz blues" and "blues folk", the "jazz folk" tag is only sparsely populated. Pentangle, yes, for sure. I'd have Astral Weeks in there. And, as I see I've already mentioned, I'd have some of Odetta. But can you think of many more? Have a look at what last.fm lists for jazz-folk, jazz folk and folk jazz. Intriguingly Tim Buckley's first album gets listed under folk-jazz. I wouldn't have included that, but I'd definitely include this one, with it's double bass and vibes. Buzzin' Fly would be on my Best Jazz Folk Album in the World…Ever!, and no mistake.
At the same time — and this definitely isn't something I'd have noticed unless I played them a few days apart — Dream Letter could quite easily be a song from David Sylvian's Blemish. The same bleak lyrics, the same sparse arrangements (except that Sylvian might have laptop bleeps in place of the vibes), and both with a strong voice holding it all together. And there aren't many better voices than Buckley Sr.
It's a curate's egg, this, but when it's good, it's very good.
 MusicBrainz entry for this album
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