Ken Navarro - Brighter Days (1995)

Brighter Days follows I Can't Complain and Pride and Joy in expanding the guitarist's scope as one who practices what he preaches. While never getting too far away from the delicious melodicism that runs through his nylon and electric veins, he tosses a few exciting curveballs into the blender. Most original of these are the very jazzy "One Step at a Time," which breaks every so often from a hot, hip-hop hook into a swinging live be-bop jam featuring the dueling horns of Bobby Militello (sax) and Jeff Jarvis (trumpet). Jarvis also adds texture to the Steely Dan-like reggae of "Footprints in the Sand." And those who think Navarro plays it too smooth with his acoustic will titter at the fiery electric blues of the punchy title track. Along for the ride, making every note Navarro hits sound spontaneous, are Fields and Reynolds, who mix session experience with true jazz heart with every harmonic beat. -- Jonathan Widran