Mark Portmann - No Truer Words (1997)

Since this keyboardist left his high profile gig with the Rippingtons in the mid-'90s, he's paid some bills doing parts and arrangements for superstar producer David Foster, and Portmann's own instincts as studio ringleader make No Truer Words a busy, diverse affair. One gets the sense that Portmann's truest heart lies in finely orchestrated romantic pieces like "Destinations" and "Canyons," but he has a blast jacking up the urban swing on the party jam "Slink" and overseeing a handful of solid soul vocals. Portmann's finely honed jazz heart beats at the core of even the most heavily produced pop track. And his roots are never far behind either -- former Rippmates Tony Morales, Steve Reid, and Jeff Kashiwa show up to help their old pal his wide ranging but never scattered artistry. ~ Jonathan Widran