An excellent modern mainstream guitarist,
Randy Johnston
is heard in top form throughout this straight-ahead trio/quartet set.
Johnston
is joined by bassist
Dwayne Burno
, drummer
Gene Jackson
, and (on five of the ten selections) pianist
Xavier Davis
. While he sometimes recalls
Barney Kessel
,
Tal Farlow
, and
Wes Montgomery
has his own sound within the
jazz
tradition. The up-tempo piece
"The Jump Back,"
one of his three originals, is a high point as are his interpretations of such
standards
as
"Careless Love,"
a swinging
"I Never Knew,"
and a tasteful
ballad
rendition of
"Nancy (With the Laughing Face)."
's fourth recording for the
High Note
label is one of his best, showing that he is one of the major underrated talents of straight-ahead
guitar. ~ Scott Yanow