Featuring a bevy of world music guests, guitarist
Lee Ritenour's
Smoke 'N' Mirrors is a stylish, joyous, and laid-back multicultural affair. Among the guests are Brazilian vocalist and keyboardist
Daniel Jobim, South African vocalist Zamajobe and guitarist Erik Pilani Paliani, West African bassist
Richard Bona, as well as such well-known contemporary jazz icons as pianist
Dave Grusin, bassist
John Patitucci, percussionist
Sheila E., and others. Judiciously,
Ritenour has made room for a wide musical palette including funky jams, melodic soul vocal tracks, inspired rhythmic passages, and of course straight-ahead jazz improvisation. While this is an impeccably crafted effort in the tradition of past
Ritenour albums, it never comes off as anything less than organically heartfelt. ~ Matt Collar