Lee Ritenour:
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 Lee RitenourRit's House Release Date: 2002 Label: GRP Records Rating:  |
Creatively, Lee Ritenour has had his ups and downs over the years. Many of the guitarist's commercial pop-jazz efforts have wasted his skills as an improviser; when Ritenour is catering to NAC/smooth jazz radio, improvisation is the usually the first thing to go. But when Ritenour does have a chance to stretch out, he can be an appealing improviser. Although quite accessible, Rit's House is among his more memorable and substantial efforts. This 2002 release has a soul-jazz/post-bop outlook that often recalls the late '60s and early '70s; for the most part, it is the sort of album that guitarist Grant Green would have been comfortable recording during that era. But Ritenour's guitar playing owes a lot more to Wes Montgomery, who is obviously his primary influence on Gabor Szabo's "Mizrab," as well as original tunes like "78th & 3rd" (which features organist Joey DeFrancesco) and the dusky "Olinda." One of the CD's best tracks has nothing to do with jazz: "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." Featuring former Doobie Brothers vocalist Michael McDonald, this interesting remake of the Police's 1981 hit is not only a departure from the rest of the album -- it is also a big departure from the original version. While the Police's version was up-tempo pop/rock, Ritenour and McDonald transform "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" into an adult contemporary/quiet storm ballad. That track is the CD's only vocal offering; the rest of Rit's House is instrumental. Arguably, 1992's Wes Bound is still Ritenour's best studio album -- certainly from a jazz perspective. But this CD is also respectable, and those who enjoyed hearing the guitarist stretching out on that mostly straightahead disc will also find a lot to enjoy about Rit's House. Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Tracks:
| Title | Composer | Time | |
| 1 | Module 105 | Ritenour | 4:31 |
| 2 | "13" | McFarland | 5:00 |
| 3 | Mizrab | Szabo | 5:27 |
| 4 | 78th and 3rd | Ritenour | 5:38 |
| 5 | Rit's House | Ritenour | 5:05 |
| 6 | Little Dolphin Dreamin' | Ritenour | 5:14 |
| 7 | Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic | Sting [1] | 4:02 |
| 8 | Condor | Grusin | 5:14 |
| 9 | Olinda | Ritenour | 5:11 |
| 10 | Night Owl | Ritenour, Holder | 6:24 |
| 11 | Party Time | Morgan | 4:19 |
| 12 | Just Listen | Ritenour | 5:59 |
Other Releases:
| Rit's House [Japan Bonus Track] Release Date: 2002 Label: GRP Records |
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