Here’s a gorgeous album by guitarist Mike Moreno, who switches between electric and acoustic along with Aaron Parks/p-key, Doug Weiss/b and Eric Harland/dr on a collection of rich originals.
On acoustic, he exudes elegance on pastoral pieces such as the folksy title track and the delicate “Epilogue” which has rich interplay with Parks’ piano. On electric, he gives off flashes of Metheny over Harland’s rustling drums on the flowing “The Empress” , while the drummer subtly snaps up exciting ripples on the enticing “The Last Stand.” He’s inherently lyrical, class and glassy with parks on “The Hills of Kykuit” and melodic on ”Intro.” Sophisticated without sterility.