I’ve seen him a couple times in the local LA clubs, and Thom Rotella is becoming one of my favorite guitarists. He seems to be filling the spot of the recently retired Kenny Burrell, aptly shown on this album with Bobby Floyd-Gregg Karukas/org, Roy McCurdy-Kendall Kaye/dr, Lenny Castro/perc and guests Jeremy Pelt/tp or Eric Alexander/ts.
The core group gets into easy soul grooves with Rotella picking out the right notes on his own ‘Who Dat?” and gliding into rivulets on “ Love For Sale”. He taps into his inner George Benson with some tasty work during “ On A Misty Night” and shuffles with a muted Pelt on “Don’t Mess With Mr. T “. He bops with a full toned Alexander on his own “Side Hustle” and struts through the title track. A haunting medley of “Three Views of a Secret/Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” makes me want to see him one more time before the year is up. WHEW!