Creatively, Lee Ritenour has had his ups and downs over the years. Many of … Read Full Bio ↴Creatively, Lee Ritenour has had his ups and downs over the years. Many of the guitarist's commercial pop-jazz efforts have wasted his skills as an improviser; when Lee Ritenour is catering to NAC/smooth jazz radio, improvisation is the usually the first thing to go. But when Ritenour does have a chance to stretch out, he can be an appealing improviser. Although quite accessible, Rit's House is among his more memorable and substantial efforts. This 2002 release has a soul-jazz/post-bop outlook that often recalls the late '60s and early '70s; for the most part, it is the sort of album that guitarist Grant Green would have been comfortable recording during that era. But Ritenour's guitar playing owes a lot more to Wes Montgomery, who is obviously his primary influence on Gabor Szabo's "Mizrab," as well as original tunes like "78th & 3rd" (which features organist Joey DeFrancesco) and the dusky "Olinda." One of the CD's best tracks has nothing to do with jazz: "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." Featuring former Doobie Brothers vocalist Michael McDonald, this interesting remake of the Police's 1981 hit is not only a departure from the rest of the album -- it is also a big departure from the original version. While the Police's version was up-tempo pop/rock, Ritenour and McDonald transform "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" into an adult contemporary/quiet storm ballad. That track is the CD's only vocal offering; the rest of Rit's House is instrumental. Arguably, 1992's Wes Bound is still Ritenour's best studio album -- certainly from a jazz perspective. But this CD is also respectable, and those who enjoyed hearing the guitarist stretching out on that mostly straightahead disc will also find a lot to enjoy about Rit's House.

Credits

John Beasley -- Fender Rhodes, Organ (Hammond), Piano
Dave Carpenter -- Bass (Acoustic)
Vinnie Colaiuta -- Drums
Paulinho Da Costa -- Percussion
Melvin Davis -- Bass
Kevin Dean -- Assistant Engineer
Joey DeFrancesco -- Organ (Hammond)
George Duke -- Fender Rhodes
Peter Erskine -- Drums
Gary Grant -- Trumpet
Beth Herzhaft -- Photography
Jerry Hey -- Arranger, Flugelhorn, Horn Arrangements, Synthesizer Arrangements, Trumpet
Dan Higgins -- Flute, Flute (Alto), Indian Flute, Sax (Tenor)
Mitch Holder -- Arranger, Guitar (Acoustic)
Will Kennedy -- Drums
Randy Kerber -- Strings, Synthesizer
Hollis King -- Art Direction
Byron Landham -- Drums
Michael McDonald -- Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Marcus Miller -- Bass
Don Murray -- Engineer, Mixing
Alan Pasqua -- Organ (Hammond), Piano
Bill Reichenbach Jr. -- Trombone
Chris Reynolds -- Assistant Engineer
Lee Ritenour -- Arranger, Guitar, Producer
Jochem van der Saag -- Arranger
Doug Sax -- Mastering
Robert Silverberg -- Release Coordinator
Ernie Watts -- Sax (Tenor)