Thom Rotella: Storyline

Mainstream guitar master Thom Rotella mixes moods of Wes Montgomery with CTI soul on this fun session with a core team of Jimmy Branly/dr, Trey Henry/b and a rotating guest list of Bob Sheppard/bcl, Tierney Sutton/voc, Mitch Forman/key, Nick Mancini/vib and Dan Higgins/bcl. Rotella is in a gloriously hip mood on the hip “Oddball” and shuffling “Take It With You” and gives an updated version of Montgomery’s “Four On Six” with a slick harmonization. His nylon strings are classy on a spacious “Besame Much” and is not adverse to adding some spacy effects as on “Dawn Is Here.” Soulful moods are in abundance with Forman on the Rhodes mixing it up with some bass clarinet on “When I Fall In Love” and the pulsating “Storyline.” Mancini’s vibes are blue on “’Round Midnight” and the gang gets psychedelic for a synthy-bop take of The Beatles’ “Come Together.” Lots of clever ideas mixed with vintage moods.

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