An exquisite guitarist of great sensitivity and warmth, Cam Newton has contributed much to the guitar repertoire, and IPSO FACTO is no exception. Also featuring bassist Mark Schneider and percussionist Tarik Banzi, this album fuses together many disparate musical styles, from American pop to Brazilian bossa nova to gypsy jazz.
The opening track, "Morning of the Gypsy King (For Django)" is dedicated to the legendary six-stringer Django Reinhardt. A carefree waltz, the song captures the wanderlust of Reinhardt's youth. "Hammock (For Jobim)" follows on its heels, with a tribute to the Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. On this piece, the sliding fretless bass and jazzy finger-picked chords complement the Latin inflected melody. Moving in a completely different direction, "Casting for the Big One" combines the winsome style of Randy Newman with a soft brush beat, twangy dobro licks, and bluesy guitar riffs. The final selection is "The Splendid Amplitude of It All," and this flamenco-influenced track again highlights Newton's diverse interests and technical abilities.