Out now on Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm, ‘Hear At Last’ from UK based guitarist Mark Jaimes is a project that has been very much worth the wait. In fact it was Rick Braun who originally suggested that Jaimes should record a solo album so now, several years later, it is appropriate that a nice ‘closing of the circle’ has occurred with Jaimes inviting Braun to appear on one of the collection’s outstanding tunes, the horn-drenched track ‘Heads Up’. It is a real winner and much the same can be said of the first single to be serviced to radio, the mid tempo ‘Evenin’ that includes a piano solo from Oli Silk and bass from Dwayne Smitty Smith.
Silk is also around for the dance orientated ‘Peak Too Soon’ and another number that is reflective of Jaimes’ classic R&B sensibilities is Rod Temperton’s ‘Midnight Rendezvous’. This buoyant song pairs Jaimes’ slick work on guitar with a soaring vocal hook by the great Patti Austin and is right up there with the best that ‘Hear At Last’ has to offer. Much the same can be said of the wonderful title cut that might best be described as textbook smooth jazz and then some while in similar vein is the top notch ‘Sidetracked’.
Later, ‘Trigger Happy’ keeps Jaimes on an expansive mid tempo roll and although the easy grooving ‘ABC’ finds him at his foot tapping best it is with ‘Miel’s Song’ and the contemplative ‘6 After 8’ that he slows things down to startling effect and in doing so really makes contemporary jazz magic happen.
Talking of magic another UK artist who has created his fair share of it is Peter White and here with the pleasantly catchy ‘We’ll See’ he combines with Jaimes to sensational effect.
Given the length of time that ‘Hear At Last’ has been in the making it is ironic that the pandemic offered the window of opportunity Jaimes was looking for to finally get it done. Having months off from live performing and with much of his regular studio work cancelled, he was able to write and produce the final batch of tunes for the project.
Looking back on what has gone before and what has brought him to this career defining moment he realizes that deep down he is and always has been a Shalamar and Michael Jackson loving soul boy, always digging the idea of those grooves and reveling in the melodies and funky rhythms that go with them.