Guitarist
Vic Juris
has a warm-toned, flowing lyricism that entices his listeners to kick back and enjoy his formidable
post-bop
style. With
Blue Horizon
he tends to reveal the many sides of his musical personality, but manages to stay true to his ability to compose songs that have a lasting cross-generational appeal. On this label debut,
Juris
offers a diverse collection of original material that spotlights his talents on the electric, steel-string acoustic, and nylon acoustic guitars. With
joined by such great artists as
Joe Locke
on vibes and marimba and
Adam Nussbaum
on drums, among others, this superb recording should garner the guitarist even more recognition from members of the '70s generation who enjoyed
Gary Burton
with
Larry Coryell
and
Jerry Hahn
, while still attracting those who favor similar
jazz
guitarists such as
Pat Metheny
John Scofield
.
"Dancing Shadows"
captures
' mellow tones and refined chord changes that are reminiscent of his days with
Dave Liebman
's group.
Locke
's beautiful solo is captivating and shines with imaginative textures and vibrato.
"Soft Spoken"
is a sensitive composition that reflects
' ability to interpret a multitude of melodic chords that indicate his romantic, soft side. His duets --
"Gojo Duo"
with vibist
,
"Domo Duo"
with drummer
Nussbaum
, and
"Vjay Duo"
with bassist
Jay Anderson
-- are interesting brief interludes that allow
to improvise one on one with the members of his rhythm section. This arrangement is a novel way to spotlight his bandmembers' talents apart from the ensemble, instead of the usual head-solo-head arrangement that many composers use for spotlighting their collaborators. However, it is the sensitive, poetic beauty of
"Blue Horizon"
"I've Heard This Song Before"
that makes this recording most memorable. By sharing compatible harmonies, rare timbres, and melodic concepts,
bring out the best in each other. Overall,
is an artistic triumph for
and one that he can be proud of for years to come. ~ Paula Edelstein