Since this keyboardist left his high profile gig with
the Rippingtons in the mid-'90s, he's paid some bills doing parts and arrangements for superstar producer
David Foster, and
Portmann's own instincts as studio ringleader make
No Truer Words a busy, diverse affair. One gets the sense that
Portmann's truest heart lies in finely orchestrated romantic pieces like "Destinations" and "Canyons," but he has a blast jacking up the urban swing on the party jam "Slink" and overseeing a handful of solid soul vocals.
Portmann's finely honed jazz heart beats at the core of even the most heavily produced pop track. And his roots are never far behind either -- former
Rippmates
Tony Morales,
Steve Reid, and
Jeff Kashiwa show up to help their old pal explore his wide ranging but never scattered artistry. ~ Jonathan Widran