Customer Reviews

Smoke N Mirrors

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Smoke N' Mirrors" is a very diversified record with so much heart and soul. Lee Ritenour has really defined the art of guitar playing in so many different ways. What's unique about this record is that there are a total of 12 different guitars used ranging from Electric, Baritone, Acoustic Steel and Nylon string guitars. I have heard all of Ritenour's cds in the past, and yes I am a big fan. Ritenour never fails to expand new horizons on the guitar or in the world of jazz music. This record showcases his talent as a real musician, and it's one of his most passionate records to date.

This is not your typical smooth jazz cd. Yes, there are some smooth jazz tunes such as the title track. This track is very reminisent of something heard from his earlier days with the super group Fourplay. I love how Ritenour brings in musicians such as Dave Grusin, Daniel Jobim, and even some newcomers like his son and Zamajobe. What an effort!

I think this cd could grow on anybody. It's very acoustic sounding to me, and it's truly another sensational effort by one of today's most evolved and accomplished jazz musicians. For most Ritenour fans, you will not be disappointed. Ritenour is in a very elite group of jazz musicians in my opinion, and this cd showcases some of his finest songwriting and skills to date! Please check out this cd!

Nick Kalenze

The latest CD by Rit, "Smoke n' Mirrors," is a musical journey from which you don't want to leave! Influenced by his recent trips to South Afica, and by his son's interest in percussion instruments, this album cooks from beginning to end. Unlike many guitarists who deconstruct songs so that the melody is lost, there are times I think Rit is a song-writer like Burt Bacharach - but with a guitar. The album has a little of everything without losing continuity. The title track sets the tone. The hand-clapping toward the end is pulsating! Then, Capetown begins with a James Taylor-like acoustic guitar intro and morphs into a South Afican vibe with a splash of funk. Rit cranks of the volume; the scorching octave volume on "Spellbinder"; the electric volume on "Motherland" (which would be awesome music set to highlights of, say, the Tour de France; and the Al Di Meola-like volume on "4 1/2 Storm" with bassist Richard Bona adding scat vocals! Want to joyfully journey back to the 80s? "Forget Me Nots" does just that!

Buy this and be happily fulfilled!

I've been listening to Lee Ritenour since the early 80's and love most everything he has done. This CD brings back some memories of older days which frankly I prefer and the sound quality is amazing. Several of the songs are dashboard banging upbeat tunes that are very unique, uplifting and infectous. Highly recomend. My only question to Lee is when are you going to tour again??

This was my first Ritenour CD and I found it to be fantastic. The arrangements are top notch professionally done. The moods flow from South African rythems to a flavorful Brazilian beat. The title track Smoke and Mirrors and my favorite,Forget Me Nots are rooted in American jazz and soul music. This rich blend of sounds makes this CD a true listening experience. I highly recommend this CD to add to your jazz collection.

Well, pretty good album, but for a long time Rit fan there are a better ones! The last song on the album reminds me of an old GRP sound, but for me there is always a question of (modern) production... For instance, I am very pleased to hear Fender Rhodes keyboard on a few songs, but this modern drum production sounds so shallow and therefore the whole song sound (the songs are great) is shallow too! Anyway, a solid 4!

The impressive career of Lee Ritenour has always been permeated by that sincere love for Brazilian music. Since his extraordinary album Rio from 1979, Ritenour has never ceased to show the love and affection for this music.

But what it really amazes (even for the most exigent lsitener) is the ambitious scope given by him. A true gallery of melodies, themes that never let you down.

An ambitious musical project featured by this enrmous talent of this legendary artist make of this album a true referential one to have it.

By any reason, don't let this CD out of your collection.

This is a cd everyone who loves smooth jazz should have in there collection. It's a mix of african, brazillean, latin music with artists that demand respect. Lee has shown once again that he can mix all kinds of foreign sounds in his talented guitarwork.
I love this cd so much. I love the idea that his own son performs percussion on this album. That shows what kind of person Lee Ritenour is to be interested in others to make his album to the best!!!

I've always been a fan of Lee Ritenour, anything he does I have to have. I'm a collector of sorts, of a lot Jazz Artists and he is one of them.

Lee Ritenour continues to bring us his honest, professional e wonderful delivery.
No smoke and mirrors in his music... just pure artistry !

I should begin by making you aware of three things: (1) I'm partial. As a musician myself (hornman), I've literally worshipped Lee Ritenour since the first day I heard him play (try "Harlequin" with Dave Grusin!). (2) I plead 'guilty' to purchasing a CD for a single song because you can't get that rendition anywhere else. And (3), being a 70s teenager, the Lee + Patrice Rushen combination was something I simply couldn't pass up. When I added it all up, "I simply had to have "Forget Me Nots." After listening to the tune at least 100 times repeated, my wife suggested I listen to the other tunes on the CD. MAN! I wasn't the least bit disappointed! For me, a tune either "cooks," is "hot" or "smokes" - the threee levels of burn. Lee, Don and Eric REALLY put this one together. If music has to start out "cookin'" for you, this CD is a must!
The Doctor