Carl Filipiak - Hotel Real (1997)

Guitarist Carl Filipiak developed both as a guitarist and a composer throughout the 1990s without achieving much fame. He jams "Blues In O" like a credible straightahead jazz musician, hints at Pat Metheny in some other spots and has a few fiery rockish fusion solos too. The music is certainly helped by the inventive playing of drummer Dennis Chambers and keyboardist Paul Soroka while three different tenor-saxophonists make one appearance apiece. Overall, this is stimulating music easily recommended to open-minded fusion collectors. ~Scott Yanow