Lee Ritenour Rit's House CD

Creatively, Lee Ritenour has had his ups and downs over the years. Many of the guitarist's commercial pop-jazz efforts have wasted his skills as an improviser; when Ritenour is catering to NAC/smooth jazz radio, improvisation is the usually the first thing to go. But when Ritenour does have a chance to stretch out, he can be an appealing improviser. Although quite accessible, Rit's House is among his more memorable and substantial efforts. This 2002 release has a soul-jazz/post-bop outlook that often recalls the late '60s and early '70s; for the most part, it is the sort of album that guitarist Grant Green would have been comfortable recording during that era. But Ritenour's guitar playing owes a lot more to Wes Montgomery, who is obviously his primary influence on Gabor Szabo's "Mizrab," as well as original tunes like "78th & 3rd" (which features organist Joey DeFrancesco) and the dusky "Olinda." One of the CD's best tracks has nothing to do with jazz: "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." Featuring former Doobie Brothers vocalist Michael McDonald, this interesting remake of the Police's 1981 hit is not only a departure from the rest of the album -- it is also a big departure from the original version. While the Police's version was up-tempo pop/rock, Ritenour and McDonald transform "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" into an adult contemporary/quiet storm ballad. That track is the CD's only vocal offering; the rest of Rit's House is instrumental. Arguably, 1992's Wes Bound is still Ritenour's best studio album -- certainly from a jazz perspective. But this CD is also respectable, and those who enjoyed hearing the guitarist stretching out on that mostly straightahead disc will also find a lot to enjoy about Rit's House. ~ Alex Henderson

Recorded at Sunset Studios, Hollywood, California between January and March 2002.

Personnel: Lee Ritenour (guitar); Michael McDonald (vocals, background vocals); Mitch Holder (acoustic guitar); Randy Kerber (strings, synthesizer); Dan Higgins (flute, alto flute, tenor saxophone); Ernie Watts (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Gary Grant (trumpet); Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); John Beasley (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Alan Pasqua (piano); George Duke (Fender Rhodes piano); Dave Carpenter (acoustic bass); Peter Erskine, Will Kennedy , Byron Landham, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Don Murray .

Recording information: Starlight Studios, Los Angeles, CA (01/2002-03/2002); Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood, CA (01/2002-03/2002).

Photographer: Beth Herzhaft.

Unknown Contributor Role: Mark Stephens.

Arrangers: Jerry Hey; Jochem van der Saag; Lee Ritenour ; Mitch Holder.

Guests:G.Duke/M.Miller/J. Defrancesco/Michael Mcdonald

Personnel: Lee Ritenour (guitar); Michael McDonald (vocals); Dan Higgins (tenor saxophone, alto flute, Indian flutes); Ernie Watts (tenor saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hay (trumpets); Jerry Hey (flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); Joey DeFrancesco, Mark Stephens, Alan Pasqua (Hammond B-3 organ); George Duke (keyboards); Randy Kerber (synthesizer); Dave Carpenter (acoustic bass); Marcus Miller, Melvin Davis (bass); Vinnie Colaiuta, Byron Landham, Pete Erskine (drums); Joachem Van Der Saag, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).