Romero Lubambo has been one of the most impressive South American guitarists to arrive on the jazz scene. He's appeared on numerous recordings and also been a part of the group
Trio da Paz, but this date for Maxjazz is a special project that he had long sought to do, consisting of individual parts on different guitars mixed together, including classical instruments, electric, fretless, cavaquinho, and guitar synthesizer. He even helps the novice listener by identifying which one is used to play the solo, rhythm, melody and harmony for each performance; it's a nice touch. Unlike many such multi-tracked solo projects, this one succeeds because
Lubambo's avoids excessive layering; the songs have the feeling of multiple musicians playing together. In addition to pieces by fellow Brazilians (
Ivan Lins and
Antonio Carlos Jobim), American standards ("I Fall in Love Too Easily," "Time After Time" and "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning"), plus several compelling originals jointly written with his wife, Pamela Driggs,
Lubambo is able to find new avenues into pop favorites like "Comin' Home Baby" and "Just the Two of Us" that often come off rather bland when played by others. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden