Customer Reviews

Overtime

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's been nearly 30 years since this world-renowned guitarist released his genre-defying CAPTAIN FINGERS album. Back in the day when filling a white canvas meant creativity, originality and vision, Lee more than filled the bill. And today, still relatively young for his wealth of experience and recordings, he continues to work `overtime' to deliver deep, rich listening experiences for listeners everywhere. Tell me what sounds better than that vivid Ritenour Gibson L5 guitar? Except maybe his distinctive playing style accompanied by an assortment of great musicians. This new CD is from a double DVD concert film where Lee gathered together an imaginative grouping of musical acquaintances in a unique environment where the players perform in a circle so that they play to each other. The result is an intimate recording of class and grace infused into Ritenour-penned pieces like "Night Rhythms," "Lil' Bumpin'," "Is It You?," and "Sugarloaf Express," along with Wes Montgomery's "Boss City," Mile's Davis' "Blue In Green," and Ivan Lins' "She Walks This Earth" actually sung by Ivan on this take. Kenya Hathaway (Donny's daughter) has an original on this project as well, "Possibilities," which is currently heard on Smooth Jazz radio. The players, too many to list all, include Harvey Mason, Dave Grusin, Ernie Watts, Chris Botti, and Patrice Rushen who is quoted: "I knew this would be an important project, because it would represent not just the moment of the music; it would also tell the story of Lee's career, which parallels a lot of the other people who participated". ~Sandy Shore

I've been collecting Lee's music since the 70's. Overtime brings around, full circle, his past and present compositions and band members in a refreshing set of killer performances. Well recorded, well rehearsed, yet still spontaneous.....a must for all Ritenour collectors. I had an opportunity to see Lee's band perform cuts from the CD/DVD in Tokyo last year.........yes, these seasoned musicians still have what it takes.

Thanks Amazon.com for the 60 second sound samples. I certainly hope that this is a new trend on here because 30 seconds is just not enough time to get a good idea about a song. This is another good smooth jazz offering by Ritemour, who specializes in bringing a diverse spectrum of "friends" on his recoedings to keep his music fresh and alive. There is no better jazz guitarist walking this planet today. The only thing is.......I REALLY miss Eric Tagg, the vocalist on Lee's earlier more commercial recordings. Go back and listen to the original version of "Is It You" off the RIT CD, and see if you don't agree

Hi ya,
I`m from all the way from New Zealand( below Australia)and yeah we are a separate country.
well what can I say but thank you lee for such a fine masterpiece you have brought us. From jazz through to groove through to funk. This has it all. All the musicians are simply the best of the best and meld together for a most pleasant experience of being in the moment and playing music together. I am a drummer and this music gives me such a buzz as when I listen to this music I imagine myself grooven away with the band. The sound production is out standing and I have not heard such a realistic production of sound in any other such as this. Great drumming too from Oscar Seaton. Just mind blowing man.
Do yourselves a favour folks - get this Cd. Very tempted to get the DVD as well.
Cheers folks

I just bought Overtime yesterday, so I am still digesting it. But from the funky, offbeat solo of the first song, Boss City, to the soulful (three songs) and sultry brazilian (one song) vocals, Overtime is a pure delight. Ritenour is just amazing technically, and hearing the CD on a high-end stereo system (RBH) makes it all the better. One facet of Rit's career that isn't mentioned as part of this CD, but is definitely reflected on this CD is Ritenour as the consummate studio/session guitarist. Listen to his playing on "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and you'll quickly hear why Rit was a triple-scale paid session guitarist during the busy 70s LA studio scene. He makes songs come alive and brings out the best in the players and singers invloved.

The man has a gift and has given it to us in Overtime. Thank you, Rit!

If you want to move and grove this is the one rit is only getting, better with age just like a fine wine. If his music could get any better please bring out a new one real soon one devoted fan.

One of the best known jazz guitarists in the world, Lee Ritenour has released a live in-studio DVD and companion CD, which attempts to summarize his career by paying tribute to some of his major influences, and covering genres that he's recorded in, including fusion, straight ahead, Brazil-influenced and contemporary jazz. Of course, it's not really possible to provide fans with a single-disc live retrospective CD of a 30-year recording career. The DVD is 150 minutes long and features 19 tracks. The 74 minute CD can best be seen as an introduction to Lee Ritenour live with some of his favorite collaborators.

The 13 track CD ended up being a mixed bag, however. Some of the tracks smoke with deft playing, tension, and challenge and compel me to listen again and again. The other half, funky jazz fusion, just don't hold my interest and sound like bloodless instrumentals - sonic wallpaper. But, as an overview of Ritenour's career, it's an honest representation.

There's a gorgeous rendition of the classic Miles Davis composition, "Blue In Green," (from 1959's Kind of Blue) featuring label mate Dave Grusin on piano.

"She Walks This Earth" (also covered by Sting) written by Brazillians Ivan Lins and Vitor Martins, features Lins on vocals and if you listen to the lyrics, it's almost an update of "The Girl From Ipanema."

The delicious trumpet playing by Chris Botti is featured on "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", the Sly and the Family Stone song.

The playing on the funkier tracks is first-rate. Listen to the prominent bass soloing on "Night Rhythms" by Melvin Davis. He and tenor saxophonist Eric Marienthal (a well known band leader in his own right) steal the show.

The final track, "Is It You," is superb smooth jazz with Kenya Hathaway and Grady Harrell on vocals. I usually don't go for the smooth stuff, but this is a goregreous R'n'B semi-ballad.

Ritenour's faultless guitar shines throughout the CD. His playing is distortion free, nimble and reminiscent of Wes Montgomery. In a nutshell, he is a jazz guitar perfectionist. Unfortunately, I have usually found funky jazz fusion and smooth jazz just not challenging enough to listen to as anything other than background music. I tend to prefer players who tend to grit things up more with reckless abandon, like Mike Stern.

01. Boss City (Wes Montgomery) 5:49
02. Blue In Green (Miles Davis) 9:15
03. Ocean Ave. (Lee Ritenour) 4:30
04. She Walks This Earth (Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins) 5:01
05. Sugerloaf Express (Lee Ritenour) 5:14
06. Possibilities (Kenya Hathaway) 4:39
07. Papa Was A Rolling Stone (Barrett Strong & Norman Jess Whitfield) 6:53
08. Morning Glory (Lee Ritenour & Bill Champlin) 5:44
09. Captain Fingers (Lee Ritenour) 7:29
10. P.A.L.S. (Lee Ritenour) 3:47
11. Night Rhythms (Lee Ritenour) 5:57
12. Lil' Bumpin (Lee Ritenour) 5:00
13. Is It You? (Lee Ritenour, Eric Tagg & Bill Champlin) 4:30

I thought this was an excellent live recording... until I watched it live on the DVD! Simply amazing! Both CD and DVD are a must for all Lee's fans.

I don't imagine that if you are reading this review you buy lots of pop music. I own most of Ritenour's music on either CD or vinyl (OK, a few 8-tracks too)! When Rit releases something, I immediately go out and buy and with few exceptions, love his work.

This CD is so diverse in its material. In a day and age where so much of the project is a couple of good tracks with filler, this CD is worthy of an extended sit down and listen for everything tune. In truth, I have no "favorite" tune. IE Track 1, an upbeat tempo tune in tribute to Wes Montgomery and then goes to a very mellow tune featuring the sax of Ernie Watts. And so on.....

So many guest artists, suffice to say they are legends in making so many genres of music and Ritenour exploits that in the breadth of material he covers.

Although so many of the Twist of... projects are a join to listen too, I actually am happier with this project than any of those. Maybe I will change my mind but not anytime soon!!! The only complaint one might have is that lee covers some of his prior work but frankly I love those tunes so no complaint here. This is truly a wonderful listen! There are a few vocal suprises but you need to get it and discover them.

this is great for the reasons stated above, great variety and musicianship, the dvd is even better though (19 songs included, almost all of the ones on the CD plus a number not included here), if you like this I would strongly recommend getting that, which is one of the best music dvds I have ever seen.