Born in Niagara Falls, New York, guitarist Thom Rotella is one of those musicians who has bopped around the music world in so many different capacities that if you haven’t actively followed his career you wouldn’t know where to find him. Among the long list of artists he’s performed with are Herbie Hancock, Stanley Turrentine, The Beach Boys, Donna Summer, Cher, Frank Sinatra an Luciano Pavarotti. As a composer he’s written music for shows like “Sex And The City,” “China Beach,” and countless other television shows, documentaries and movies.
Out Of The Blues finds the guitarist, who has recorded as a leader in mostly smooth jazz type settings, in a straight-ahead context. Accompanied by some of the best, yet unheralded, musicians working today, the quartet spirits their way through seven Rotella originals and three standards. Drummer Roy McCurdy’s time keeping is impeccable and his light fills show him to be a totally in-the-moment percussionist and attuned to subtle shifts of mood by the rest of the ensemble. Bassist Luther Hughes’ lines are clean and have a tendency towards melodic shapes, never a bad trait in bass players. The piano duties are split between Llew Matthews, a jazz veteran who has worked with Kenny Dorham and Jackie McLean, among others, and Rich Eames, a noted composer for film and television.
Overall what this recording produces is some nice late-night dinner music. There’s nothing wrong with the recording, but neither does it catch fire. Rotella is a superb musician, and a strong follower of Wes Montgomery; notice his solo on the opening “Who Dat?” for proof. The ensemble swings sweetly behind the guitarist, and Rotella’s deep toned and bluesy lines are perfect for soft after-hours gatherings. On “My Foolish Heart” Rotella opens up his soul for a very personal reading of the melody, but you can’t help but feel he left a little of himself in reserve.
The rest of the recording is more of the same. The group moves as one, it just would have been nice to see them take some chances.
Tracks: Who Dat?, Bluze 4 Youze, My Foolish Heart, The Dr. Is In, Never Say Goodbye, The Way You Look Tonight, All Ways, I Hear A Rhapsody, Shimmer and Be Here Now
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