Jack Lee - La Habana (2019)

With La Habana, guitarist and composer Jack Lee evokes a pastiche of warm sounds and deep grooves that evoke tropical light and air. With the bottom locked into deep pockets by bassist Nathan East and Drummer Steve Ferrone, lush, funky textures with an expansive sonic palette from collaborators guitarist Michael Thomson, keyboarding Charles Blenzig and keyboard/sax wizard Norihito “Mimi” Sumitomo, Jack delivers a hip, sophisticated album showcasing his fleet fingered guitar playing and thoughtful songwriting.
The album starts off with the title tune La Habana, a breezy reggae feel with evocative keyboards bubbling with sunshine and tropical air. Emerald Dream serves up a midtempo deep groove that shimmers with smooth, wistful turnarounds and a lush harmonic backdrop. A retake of the classic God Bless the Child works off a deep pocket southern shuffle feel with a blues-inflected guitar, with a just a hint of Miles. September Song is boisterous re-adaptation of the song Jasmine by Ed Maguire on keys, with propulsive drumming from the brilliant Antonio Sanchez, masterful horn arrangements from Norihito Sumitomo that evoke cheery New Orleans as Jack puts a greasy tinge on his articulation. Southern cooking. Gratitude is another reimagining, this time of the tune April Blossom by Ed- and it takes us to church. The vibe is steeped in bluesy gospel feeling, with Antonio Sanchez, and Charles Blenzig’s piano and organ and Mimi’s horn arrangements opening up a wistful blue big band sound.
‘Brushstrokes’ is acoustic guitar inflected with a sweet melody with tinges of Pat Metheny’s influence. With ‘Katie’, Jack hearkens to George Benson with octaves on the guitar over medium tempo shuffle in minor R&B vibe featuring a sax solo from Alex Foster. Amalfi is another collaboration with Ed Maguire, straight down into a funky Steely Dan-inflected groove with those sardonic, yet hip horns. I See You gets deeper into the groove with funky slap bass from David Dyson, lush chords, guitar synth from Jack and a sax solo from Mimi. Vivre de Amor is a collaboration with the great Brazilian guitarist Toninho Horta, that re-factors Toninho’s unique changes into a funky backline with bassist Dave Dyson and Tim Carmon on keyboards. The final song Passport is an uptempo tropically tinged song, with With Harvey Mason on drums and Hogyu Hwang on fretless bass.