Bernie Williams Journey Within CD

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: Bernie Williams (guitar, percussion); Mark Rivera (saxophone); Jerry Hey (flugelhorn); Bela Fleck (banjo); Hiram Williams (cello); John Thomas (piano, keyboards, string synthesizer); David Benoit (piano); Larry Williams (Fender Rhodes piano); David Sancious (keyboards); Tim Pierce, David Spinozza, Mike Alvarez (guitar); Leland Sklar, T-Bone Wolk (bass); Kenny Aronoff, Shawn Pelton (drums); Luis Conte, Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Ruben Blades, Gilberto Santa, B.J. Lequerica.
Recorded at Globe Studios, New York, New York.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: Bernie Williams (guitar); Mike Alvarez (guitar); Béla Fleck (banjo); Hiriam Williams (cello); John Thomas (strings, piano); Mark Riviera (saxophone); Jerry Hey (flugelhorn); David Benoit (piano); Larry Williams (Fender Rhodes piano); David Sancious, John Thomas (keyboards); Kenny Aronoff, Shawn Pelton (drums); Luis Conte, Bashiri Johnson (percussion); B.J. Lequerica, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Rubén Blades (background vocals).
Audio Remixers: Paul Brown ; Bud Harner.
Liner Note Authors: Paul McCartney; Bernie Williams.
Recording information: Globe Studios, NY.
Photographer: Jorge Alvarez.
Take note! If there's one lively Latin-flavored guitar jazz disc by an all-star center fielder you must listen to this year, make it this one. Don't do it however, just for the novelty of a .300 career-hitting New York Yankee legend making music for a hometown-based label, but because his hobby comes loaded with great melodic ideas and some buoyant, snappy playing. No doubt many critics will see this as a sports celebrity vanity project, and much will be made of all the top musicians who jumped into the fray (Béla Fleck, David Sancious, T-Bone Wolk, Luis Conte), but Williams truly holds his own. The opening track, "La Salsa en Mi," is feisty Latin jamming with an instantly catchy melody, and sets a lofty standard that some of the mellower tracks simply can't match. High-spirited exotic sessions like that and the percussion-intense "Desvelado" run rings around more conventional but still engaging light funk-jazz tracks like "The Way" and the lush ballad "Just Because," whose contribution by labelmate pianist David Benoit is surprisingly subtle. Those who like simple fingerstyling may most enjoy the interlude "Samba Novo," while pop fans may best enjoy the mainstream readings of "Dust in the Wind" and Billy Joel's plaintive "And So It Goes." The best evidence that Williams can funk out as well as he can do salsa (remember, he's a native Puerto Rican) is the turbocharged fusion jam "Stranded on the Bridge." In contemporary jazz circles, Wayman Tisdale has made a successful move from basketball to bass. When Bernie Williams retires, more discs like this will ensure that he's more than a one-shot deal. ~ Jonathan Widran
A perennial all-star and paragon of consistency, Bernie Williams patrolled centerfield for the New York Yankees starting in 1990 with grace and a certain coolness. A classically trained guitarist, he also gained renown within baseball circles as the sport's preeminent musician. Throughout the history of baseball there have been many major leaguers who have fancied themselves musicians. However, outside of Arthur Lee Maye, an outfielder who led a moderately successful doo-wop combo, the Crowes, in the '50s, and Scott Radinsky, a relief pitcher who fronted two highly regarded '90s punk bands, Ten Foot Pole and Pulley, most of these athletes' ambitions have generally been reserved, and rightfully so, for hobbies.
However, Williams's 2003 debut, THE JOURNEY WITHIN, a deft jazz record with an infusion of Latin themes, proves him an able guitarist in the tradition of Grant Green, as well as an impressive songwriter whose day job just happened to be baseball star. Williams-penned compEntertainment Weekly (7/25/03, p.73) - "...The Puerto Rico native proves a mighty fine guitarist--and composer--on JOURNEY, an infectious, jazzy mix of Latin-tinged instrumentals..." - Grade: B