After 15 years of guitarist
Lee Ritenour primarily playing crossover music, this set of mostly straight-ahead jazz was a surprise.
Ritenour always loved Wes Montgomery's playing and on many of these cuts, that influence dominates his sound and style. Assisted by tenor saxophonist
Ernie Watts (who usually takes solo honors), pianist
Alan Broadbent, bassist
John Patitucci (sticking to acoustic) and drummer
Harvey Mason,
Ritenour performs such numbers as "Stolen Moments," "Haunted Heart," "Blue In Green" and "Sometime Ago," in addition to four originals (including "Waltz for Carmen"). Although not essential music, this is one of the rare
Lee Ritenour rare sets that should interest straight-ahead jazz collectors. ~ Scott Yanow