John Pisano has hosted a long-running Tuesday night series called Guitar Night at various nightclubs in Los Angeles, featuring guest guitarists along with a rhythm section. This fascinating two-CD set collects highlights of the series, recorded over a decade-long stretch covering several generations of players in a number of different styles, though the performances stick almost exclusively to standards and time-tested jazz compositions.
Pisano, like on his many recordings with
Joe Pass, sticks primarily to a supporting role when present. While the tracks by seasoned masters like
George Van Eps,
Herb Ellis,
Joe Diorio, and
Ted Greene are obvious keepers, listeners will also enjoy hearing smooth jazz guitarist
Pat Kelley and fusion guitarist
Scott Henderson playing in a straight-ahead setting. Barry Zweig,
Frank Potenza,
Larry Koonse,
Peter Bernstein,
Corey Christiansen, and
Anthony Wilson also shine in this delightful compilation. ~ Ken Dryden