Here is a trio of recent guitar gems of note…
Ray Obiedo keeps it clean and smooth with an all star cast that includes sax master Bob Mintzer, steel drummer Andy Narell and the late Toots Thielmans with his glorious harmonica. Obiedo keeps it sleek with Mintzer/s tenor on the upbeat “Jinx” and a slinky “Modern World” with the leader doubling on soulful keys. Narell adds a Caribbean flavor to the festive “Sunset” and a rich bass line by Marc van Wageningen joins with Thielemans on a sleek “Song For Jules. Rich voices by Obiedo along with Mike Olmos’ glistening horn make for a lusch “Cho’s Cha” and some percussive joys by Peter Escovedo make for a salsa’d “Sharp Aztec.” Polished to perfection.
Mike Pachelli plays a 1993 Gibson L5 Wes Montgomery guitar and sounds like he drank deeply from the same well on hip reads of a snappy “Cute” and boppy “Put On A Happy Face” in an all star trio session with bassist Tony Levin and drummer Danny Gotlieb. Keb Mo sits in for a wonderfully bopping “Yardbird Blues” that bounces with joy. Levin and Gottlieb swing till midnight on a fun “Whistle While You Work” and are hip as all get out on “When You’re Smiling.” Pachelli’s got a wonderful sound, clever vibrato and never packs too much into his suitcase. This one’s a winner. Any trips to So Cal?
Paul Silberglet leads a warm post bop quartet with Eric Schoor/ts, clay Schaub/b and Todd Howell/dr through a mix of originals and standards. Silberglet has an impressive pulse to his chords, driving warmly on the title track, and leading into easy grooves as on “Pauly The Pirate” and “Back To Somewhere.” Howell is crisp and concise on the hip “The Summer Knows” and for his own composition, Schoor displays his muscular tenor on the easy groove of “Round Lake” and the bel canto “Unspoken” with a nice unison lie that pops with Silbergleit on the leader’s “My New Attitude.” In the trad, but with a nice forward look.