Review: Guitarist Rotella has a long & storied career & has played in collaboration with a wide range of top jazz musicians. On this, his 11th disc, Rotella continues to surprise and lead his audiences into often-uncharted territory -- but always with that sense of adventure and passion that have been a cornerstone of his musical life.
If You Like: Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Bill Connors
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Odd Ball (3:03) – guitar starts> midtempo jam> tasty guitar solo> vibes solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
2/ Four On Six (4:00) – bass starts> midtempo jam slows to slow tempo> vibes solo> midtempo jam> bass clarinet solo> quick stop
*3/ Come Together (4:21) – bass starts> midtempo jam> Rhodes solo> guitar solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
4/ Storyline (4:47) – Rhodes starts> midtempo jam slowly builds in volume> quick stop
*5/ ‘Round Midnight (4:09) – Rhodes/vibes start> slow jam builds in volume> guitar solo> vibes solo> midtempo heavy jam slows to slow jam> slow fade
6/ Monkey Bizness (3:52) – drums start> midtempo jam> guitar solo> sax solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
*7/ When I Fall In Love (7:09) – Rhodes/vibes/guitar starts starts> slow mysterious jam> guitar solo> slow jam> slow fade
**8/ Besame Mucho (5:03) – guitar starts slow, swings into uptempo jam with a Latin vibe>guitar solo> uptempo jam> fade
9/ Christo Redentor (7:00) – Rhodes/bass starts> slow jam builds to crescendo, then mellows to slow jam> slow fade
*10/ Nuze Blues (7:24) – Rhodes/guitar starts> slow jam> guitar solo> slow jam> bass clarinet solo> slow jam> slow fade
*11/ Take It With You (4:05) – guitar starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> Rhodes solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
12/ Dawn Is Here (5:43) – bass starts> slow jam builds in volume> electric sitar joins, builds to midtempo jam> fade