With
3 for 3, Mike Moreno’s scorecard for high-quality album
releases is now 6 for 6.
The
Texas-born, New York City-based jazz guitarist’s sixth solo record
is his first leading a trio, and it is every bit as compelling and
engrossing as his previous entries fronting quartets and quintets.
Moreno,
bassist Doug Weiss, and drummer Kendrick Scott prove to be a tight
unit as they dazzle their way through eight covers with aplomb and
deftness. The arrangements and performances are elaborate and
beautiful.
Very
few artists in any genre have a body of work that is consistently
good, and Moreno holds an esteemed place in that extremely small
group. Not every single song of his, whether original or standard, is
absolutely stunning or amazing, but none of them are sub-par or
uninteresting either, a rare and unique feat in itself that makes
each of his albums equally solid.
All
of the songs here are captivating, but my favorites are “Clube da
Esquina No. 1,” with its mesmerizing blend of lyrical acoustic
guitar and swooning electric guitar, and “Glass Eyes,” which
features swirls of cascading electric guitar tones.
This
is another outstanding entry from an extraordinary musician who
continues to excite, innovate, and inspire.
--Raj
Manoharan
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