PAUL RICCI

THE PATH

Origin Records

This is funk and fusion at its best.  All the recorded music is composed by guitarist and band leader, Paul Ricci. As he states in the album liner notes:

“I collected my experiences and influences …together in these compositions, in search of a personal common thread. New York has a mysterious way of presenting me with the cultural confluence of jazz, rock, blues, hard bop, organ trios, R&B, pop, Rhumba, Samba, varied Caribbean and African styles, Candombe and more. … They were all on my plate. The compositions here were born of those influences,” Ricci states.

The Ricci ensemble opens with “Major Look” that sets the mood for what is to come. His percussive strength and Brazilian flavors are soaked into this tune, blended with funk and a nod to fusion jazz.  This is followed by a tune he calls “Whenever” where his guitar takes the lead.  This time I hear Middle Eastern influences in Ricci’s music.

Ricci has studied several musical styles over his impressive career as a guitarist, arranger, composer and producer of music in both the United States and Brazil. On Track #3, Abdoulaye Diabate adds emotional vocals to a tune called “Lobo.”  Abdoulaye has written the lyrics for this song.

Caught playing ‘Live’ at the Passau Jazz Café, Ricci shows off his ‘blues’ chops. You hear his blues roots incorporated into this new recording on tunes like “Down on 6^th Street.”

During this recent recording of “the Path,” Ricci seems to be encouraging us to experience cultural encounters he has made along his life path. Through his music, he challenges us to discover how our various cultures and countries strive to become one, using music as the catalyst.

During this time of division, bullying. hatred and worldwide disruption of peace, perhaps we could use Ricci’s example to become more inclusive and more loving of the entire human race.

THE BAND: Paul Ricci, guitars/electric bass/composer; Michael Wolff, electric piano; Hugo Fatoruso, piano/organ/clavinet; Andre Mehmari, fender Rhodes; Anthony Jackson, contrabass guitar; Steve Jordan, Jurim Moreira & Jojo Kuo, drums; Valtinho Anastacio, Manolo Badrena, percussion; Rogerio Boccato, drums/percussion; Ramon Echgeray, Arturo Prendez & Hugo Fasttoruso, candombe percussion; Alex Foster & Jay Rodriguez, soprano saxophone; Randy Brecker, flugelhorn; Abdoulaye Diabate, vocals.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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