Jim Robitaille uses a wide variety of guitars and sounds in this colorful trio album with electric bassist Bill Miele and drummer Chris Poudrier. The strings have almost a country flavor as he twangs out a bluesy post bopper “Natural Selection” while hints of Metheny modernism gallop over Miele’s bass line on “Transitions”. Darker strains rack a bit on the journey of “Chance Meeting” and Poudrier provides a snappy backbeat for the funky tones of “Space Cycles”.
On acoustic guitar, Robitaille is delicate and cozy on the Disney classic “Never Never Land” and gentle for the melodic “When We Passed”. Miele does a nice dance to Poudrier’s cymbals for “Nocturne” and the three get spacious on “February 12th”. Tones and taste.