FUNKY R&B/JAZZ
A retrospective with a twist (and thus the title’s meaning), this album comes 40 years after Ritenour’s debut “First Course” and features mainly reworked older material. (Only tracks 4, 6, 7 are new compositions.) A large ensemble includes a number of fusion and pop-jazz musicians (Dave Grusin, Patrice Rushen, Ernie Watts) with whom Ritenour has worked.

All instrumental. No FCC issues.

1 Fast. Funky soul. Heavy on guitar effects. Backed by synth and lots of horns. (5:32)
2 * Mid-tempo. Bluesy note bending on lead guitar. R&B inspired horns. (5:52)
3 Slow. Laid back, “Quiet Storm” soft jazz. Dreadful. (5:01)
4 * Mid-tempo. Just guitar, organ, bass & drums now (no horns). Guitar has a rock tone, reminiscent of Jeff Beck’s fusion period. (7:51)
5 Mid-tempo. Very 70s. It’s plenty groovy, but I don’t care for all the effects. (5:37)
6 Mid-slow. Surprisingly tender ballad. Just hollow-body gtr, pno, bass, hand drums. (4:50)
7 Mid-slow. New title track but as 70s/80s as the others. Petals, synth, flute, horns. (5:38)
8 * Fast. This one finally rocks a bit. Two guitars, two keyboards, bass & drums. (4:51)
9 * Mid-slow. Pleasant & light. Ernie Watts has a nice turn on tenor sax. (8:11)
10 Mid-tempo. More big-ensemble, big effects, R&B stuff. (5:28)
11 * Mid-fast. Almost “straight” jazz. Acoustic piano rather than synth. Sax lead sounds like something Tom Scott might do. (6:36)
12 Mid-tempo. Two acoustic guitars. Semi-Classical. (5:00)