Thom Rotella - Storyline (2019) Lossless

The title of guitarist Thom Rotella’s new cd “Storyline” is apt indeed, as it reflects his approach in both composition and playing. As talented and experienced a player as he is. Rotella is, above all, a musician who tells stories. It’s never just about technical prowess with flashy pyrotechnics, but more about communication with audiences and fellow musicians.
Rotella presents a beautiful mix of jazz and popular chestnuts and striking originals. With a carefully chosen group of musicians, the group offers appealing and gorgeously atmospheric versions of; the Beatles’ “Come Together"; Thelonious Monk’s "’Round Midnight”; Wes Montgomery’s "Four On Six”; Duke Pearson’s "Cristo Redentor"; the standards “When I Fall In Love” and “Besame Mucho"; and Rotella’s soulful and lovely originals— “Oddball”, “Monkey Bizness”, "Storyline”, "Dawn is Here”, "Nuze Bluze" and "Take It With You." All of these tunes defy category except the one important one—they all make for terrific music and rewarding listening.
Thom Rotella has been a vital musician for many years with experience as a best-selling recording artist, an in-demand player for film and television. Above all he’s been a creative performing jazz musician, whose talents have led him to work with Stanley Turrentine, Tom Scott, Gerald Albright, Plas Johnson and musicians as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Cher, Donna Summer, Norah Jones and many, many others. All this great history beautifully informs this special new recording.