Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0

The second Brazilian oriented project for guitarist Doug Munro features a trio, mixing bossa with bop, hard bop, post-bop, and modern mainstream jazz in a pleasant, literate, thoughtful way. Munro is a talented performer who possesses all the chops and musicianship one could ever need, but employs a restraint and taste that elevate these quite accessible tunes. Among the chestnuts; a typical version of Chick Corea's "Spain," a neat and clean bossa bop take of Thelonious Monk's "Bemsha Swing," a very well done Latinized and witty, slightly off minor version of the Sonny Rollins classic "Blue Seven," a jamming take of Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower" featuring shades of Wes Montgomery's "Road Song," and a fairly straight read with bossa accents on Wayne Shorter's "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum." Munro's original "A Day at the Races" is clearly an offshoot and reharmonization of "A Night in Tunisia," while the famous Beatles tune "Money Can't Buy You Love" is the basic precept on the rock & roll simplicity of "Devil's Haircut." Perhaps the best track of all is the static and freewheeling "Something I Heard," revealing a concept Munro and friends should pursue further. This is a well-played and conceived recording, eschewing echoes of Andrés Segovia, Luiz Bonfá, Romero Lubambo, and other similar players of their ilk. Munro should be pleased that he is solidly in their company. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi