I’m not sure how many of you are up on your modern instrumental jazz/funk, but Mark Lettieri is the man. I’m sure a lot of you are familiar with Snarky Puppy and their universe of musicians. I first noticed Mark while he was playing guitar with them. This is album number six out of seven as a solo artist, although he has released albums as a guest as well as a member of The Fearless Flyers. The Barritone Sessions I’m assuming is the use of said guitars, and the low end sounds and grooves that instrument producers.
It’s worth the price of the album alone for the first two tracks Red Dwarf and Magnetar. The heavy funk grooves of these two tunes are just freakin’ awesome. Mark is not a wham bam, widdley diddly distortion, 1000 notes a second guy, lots of clean tones and cool little runs and riffs with plenty of attention to the dynamics of the piece. Pulsar even has hints of reggae mixed in with the funk, and that solo is killer. The production is top drawer giving everything a chance to breathe and is not overpowering. Tidal Tail slows the groove down a little with a more 70’s feel, but man these cats can sure play and I defy anyone not to groove to these sounds. Side 1 closes out with Voyager 1, the groove slowing right down but still mean and nasty.
Side 2 opens up with the funk rock shuffle of Star Catchers. With no other than Mr. Steve Lukather guesting on guitar, and those horns are just killer. The middle section with the solo, change of beat, and groove is just wonderful. Blue Straggler is up next and the groove is so good and yet different with that slide guitar, I’m guessing is the blue straggler. The groove change near the end is just killer. Nebulae is up next and the funk is given a subtle hint of the Caribbean, but that main riff and groove are superb and that guitar tone is really cool. Supernova starts really slow and eerie and then that main riff and groove dive in. Superb middle section where the groove is dialled up and the tones get really heavy, and one moment of guitar hero. The record closes out with Sublight, a cool acoustic piece with a nice shuffle on the brushes as accompaniment.
Everyone needs some groove in their soul, especially when it’s done so well. This is another everyone should own album. Oh, and my favourite track is Magnetar.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
