Brand new from Phoenix based guitarist Pete Gitlin is the hugely eclectic ‘Amplify’. It’s the follow up to the highly acclaimed ‘Full Circle and the Great Temptation’ which not also garnered the radio hit ‘Sunshine Days’ but in the process also became an instant Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite. ‘Amplify’ features ten all original Gitlin compositions. With production by John Herrera plus guest appearances from Cindy Bradley, Jeff Kashiwa, Dominic Amato, Michael Broening and Mel Brown, it is a CD with much to commend it.
‘Amplify’ opens up with the velvety radio single, ‘Lucky In Love’. This joyous track includes input from Michael Broening and Mel Brown who contribute often and throughout while elsewhere the Philly-soul sound of ‘Until the Morning Comes’ promises much and with vocals from Dennis Rowland delivers even more.
The extremely interesting title cut includes a fine performance on sax from Jeff Kashiwa and some cool 5th Dimension like vocals from Jodi Light. It’s a song that sums up the variety that the collection has to offer and much the same can be said of ‘Reggaetown’, which has a title that basically tells you all you need to know. Suffice to say the platform laid by Brown on bass provides an excellent foundation for Gitlin’s bluesy guitar and, much as anticipated, ‘Cowboys And Indians’ is indeed akin to something from a television ‘western’ but is afforded a fresh perspective by the sitar of Stan Sorenson. Never has the phrase ‘east meets west’ been more appropriate but when Gitlin switches gears for the swaggering and extremely current ‘Soul Connection’ streetwise and (partially vocoded) vocals of Dony Adair really get the job done.
Bradley’s unmistakable tones on flugelhorn further enrich the already lusciously mellow ‘If You Say So’ and when Cindy returns on trumpet (and would you believe euphonium) for ‘Across The Endless Ocean' she helps engender what proves to be one of the album’s more tender moments.
The wall of sound that is ‘Another Day In Paradise’ comes complete with strings, sax from Kashiwa and Gitlin’s wailing electric guitar. Not only that, it sits in charming contrast to the melodically acoustic ‘Straight Down The Fairway’ which provides the chance for Gitlin to really shine and is given texture by some nice interventions on sax by Amato.
‘Amplify’ is out now and for more go to www.petegitlin.com.