One tune currently catching significant airplay is ‘Ritmo De Otono’ from baseball player turned guitarist Bernie Williams. Broadly translated to ‘Autumn Rhythm’ this sensuously grooving number, which features Dave Koz on sax, is the latest single to be lifted from Williams’ second CD ‘Moving Forward’. Although Williams is best known for the sixteen seasons he spent as centre fielder with the New York Yankees, he actually started playing guitar when aged eight in his home town of San Juan. Puerto Rico.
His debut release, ‘Journey Within’ was released in 2003, while he was still on the Yankees roster, and although his style is eclectically Latin, Williams has found considerable favour within the smooth jazz community.
‘Moving Forward’ is a great example of the variety that Williams packs into his music as, along side Latin tinged delights and smooth jazz grooves, he has found space for two duets with Jon Secada, another with the incomparable Bruce Springsteen and an evocatively tender rendition of ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game’ which comes complete with an intro from legendary Yankees announcer Bob Shepperd.
‘Moving Forward’ is a little different to the norm and worth checking out.
