If you are a jazz guitar fan and you've never heard of Stew Cutler before, and let's face it there's a good chance you haven't, then you will want to get your hands on Trio/Live and experience some serious licks. Stew's been around the block for a while as backing musician for such astists as David Sanborn, Lester Bowie, Z.Z. Hill, and Bill Frisell, but on his own with Garry Bruer (drums) and Gene Torres (bass), the trio smolders throughout this latest release Trio/Live. Recorded live various gigs in Pennsylvania and New York in November of 2004, the three musicians make their way through ten tracks of smoky jazz that incorporates elements of rock, blues, and funk. Cutler's style is a mix of the explosiveness of Mike Stern or Larry Coryell, the melodic nature of Larry Carlton, and the soulful swing & taste of John Scofield. Highlight tracks include the simmering blues rock of "Left Behind", the poignant yet dark jazz of "Mourning Dance", the rumbling and complex "Spaghetti Western" (which sees the rhythm team really working overtime), the upbeat "Ardells Theme", and the rambling jams of the near 15-minute "Burma/Change of Heart", where the guitarist puts on his 60's fusion and avant-garde hat and really flies around the fretboard. Overall this is an enjoyable instrumental jazz guitar release from a talented trio, and worth checking out.
Track Listing
1. Left Behind
2. Mourning Dance
3. Spaghetti Western
4. East River Delta
5. Ardells Theme
6. Whisper
7. Cole's Mountain
8. Yippie-tai-yi-yo
9. Burma/Change of Heart
10. Cut 'n' the Dove
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