A Twist of Rit / Lee Ritenour

A Twist of Rit

 Could as well be called a twist of art.

This is Mr Lee Ritenour´s new album 2015!

This new album by my old favourite of all times in Jazz-rock, or fusion , contemporary music is surprisingly good! Buy it or listen to the album on Spotify!

Well, nothing in jazz stays the same and shouldn´t .That it´s a well known factor for all jazzcats  trying to live up to, but sometimes the audience or true fans request some "oldies". Sure, if you see them live. And for the true fans it´s both fun and surprising.

Have in mind that  on one concert of jazzcats to another is not the same, and shouldn´t be. That´s the point of improvisation in Jazzmusic, and that´s were all the fun and interesting begins.

I have just seen Mr. Ritenour once in Copenhagen live,  I think it was in the late 80´s, and he is a real pro. Not just as a recording artist, but also as an jazzartist of the jazzguitar on the stage. Born 1952 and pro studiomusician as early as at the age of 17 or 18, I don´t remember, but it doesn´t matter.

His first album in his own name was "First Course"(1976).

In fact, it was my guitarteacher that introduced me to listen to this guy. then.

Since then, I´ve got all his albums. They are all good, well played and contains a spectrum of all kinds of music. But in the base of his there as an improviser in the solos of his.

This brand new album contains songs from his very early albums, but with new sounds and settings. Of course all his old friends plays with him too. Surprisingly there are a lot of songs from his first album, and they sounds as fresh as they were new.

I mean this album is NOT a "tincan" of old material that you just pickup, and dust off  a little bit and playin them as you used to play in them in the good o´l  times.

The quality of these "old songs" in a new context still holds good quality today.

 

 Many of the "old" fusion bands or jazzcats stuff of the 70´s and 80´s are mostly musically experimental searching.

 I am sorry to say that some of them, not all , represent the time that was, but they don´t stand out in the music of today any longer, unfortunately. A great deal is good, and some still holds a lot of certin quality though. Jazzmusic often reflects the contemporary style in time too. Many forerunners like Herbie Hancocks groups and Weather Report eg. can still be listened too.

 Many bands at that time had very good instrumentalists, and even virtuosos, not only guitarists who competed to the title "fastest in the world". 

Sometimes it was just a "show-off", but that´s also a kind of tradition in jazzmusic. The technique is a very important thing specified not only in Jazz, but to all kind of music. Important thing is to know that this is just a matter of means, a tool for  different kind of expressions. Useful when you are in a playfull playground like jazz is.

Mr. Lee Ritenour´s music and his friends are still going strong. I mean that this is the good sign of quality. Not only of a real good craftmanship , but also almost a touch of "evergreens" in jazz music. Who were these guys that told you that studio-musicians can´t rock or swing? 

Forget about them. Mr Ritenour (or "Captain Fingers") still going strong.

And he is not old...But good music never gets.

Treat the music well, it is our best friend !

(Lee Ritenour)

One of my absolut best guitarist in the world!

(HD)

Listen to the words that these cats are saying!