Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin - Amparo (2008)

The careers of these two jazz legends have diverged wildly since they celebrated a lifetime of friendship and collaborations with their critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated classical excursion Two Worlds in 2000. While Ritenour has kept up a busy recording pace with gems like Smoke 'N' Mirrors and his all-star tribute productions A Twist of Marley and A Twist of Motown, Grusin was largely MIA from the original recording realm, popping up only briefly in 2004 with Now Playing: Movie Themes — Solo Piano, featuring acoustic interpretations of his best film score pieces. No doubt Grusin's fans would still love a return to the pop/jazz realm, but there's no shortage of brilliance from either performer on their classical sequel Amparo, a worthy follow-up to the first project. On the original, they took a very traditional approach, exploring the works of Bach, Bartók, and Villa-Lobos, among others, but on Amparo, the greatest surprise is the wider ranging multi-culturalism. Grusin himself composed the hypnotic opening suite of "Three Latin American Dances," which roll from a spritely "Tango en Parque Central" to percussive and dramatic swings through "Danzon de Etiqueta" and "Joropo Peligroso." The lone holdover guest from the first project is opera great Renée Fleming, whose wordless transcendence blends magically with violinist Joshua Bell on a dreamy Gabriel Fauré piece. The duo then goes folky to pleasing effect on the graceful, charmingly lyrical and orchestra enhanced "English Folk Song Suite," which they cap with "Since I First Saw Your Face," a bright slice of 17th century English romance delivered sweetly by guest vocalist James Taylor. Before returning to tradition via the rich string arrangement on Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite," Grusin and Ritenour lovingly recall their mid-'80s Brazilian-influenced jazz project Harlequin by tapping into Jobim's passionate "Olha Maria (Amparo)" with the sweetening of Bell's violin. The thoughtful Rit original "Echos" is followed by two wonderful showcases for one of the 2000s most popular trumpeters, Chris Botti, who is perfectly at home bringing beauty and brilliance to "Adagio in G Minor" and Handel's lively "Rinaldo, Duetto," which he performs as a cheery, then pensive, then happy again narrative duet with Fleming's world-renowned vocal prowess. The sheer artistry of Amparo will make fans of all of the artists involved hope that the dynamic duo won't wait till 2016 before enchanting them again with this kind of welcome excursion.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170654863/2008_-_Amparo__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170650125/2008_-_Amparo__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Smoke 'N' Mirrors (2006)

Featuring a bevy of world music guests, guitarist Lee Ritenour's Smoke 'N' Mirrors is a stylish, joyous, and laid-back multicultural affair. Among the guests are Brazilian vocalist and keyboardist Daniel Jobim, South African vocalist Zamajobe and guitarist Erik Pilani Paliani, West African bassist Richard Bona, as well as such well-known contemporary jazz icons as pianist Dave Grusin, bassist John Patitucci, percussionist Sheila E., and others. Judiciously, Ritenour has made room for a wide musical palette including funky jams, melodic soul vocal tracks, inspired rhythmic passages, and of course straight-ahead jazz improvisation. While this is an impeccably crafted effort in the tradition of past Ritenour albums, it never comes off as anything less than organically heartfelt.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170657588/2006_-_Smoke__N__Mirrors__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170657055/2006_-_Smoke__N__Mirrors__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - World Of Brazil (2005)

Since 1973, Ritenour was always a big passionate of Brazilian music, including at least 1 Brazilian track in almost every previous CD release. "World of Brazil" is a compilation of all his previous Brazilian music. Bossa Nova, Jobim, Ritenour style, this album is a treat for any Brazilian Bossa Nova relaxing Jazz music lover and a must for any LT fan.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170654822/2005_-_World_Of_Brazil__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170653408/2005_-_World_Of_Brazil__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Overtime (2005)

Overtime is really two CDs in one. On the instrumentals, particularly "Bass City" and "Blue in Green," guitarist Lee Ritenour sounds a lot like Wes Montgomery and he leads his group (which features either Ernie Watts or Eric Marienthal on tenor) through some relatively straight-ahead numbers filled with soulful and creative playing. However the five vocals numbers are much more in the R&B/smooth vein and are largely throwaways despite the occasional presence of Ivan Lins. Clearly Ritenour was going for variety on this project but will probably only satisfy his greatest fans. The jazz listeners will be turned off by the vocals and the pop/smooth fans will probably only tolerate some of the more adventurous originals. Ritenour sounds fine in both settings but probably should have recorded twice as much music and split this CD into two.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170657723/2005_-_Overtime__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170656389/2005_-_Overtime__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Treasure-Rit (2003)

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http://rapidshare.com/files/170657090/2003_-_Treasure-Rit__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170657507/2003_-_Treasure-Rit__320k_.part2.rar

Download-Link (Part 3):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170657627/2003_-_Treasure-Rit__320k_.part3.rar

Download-Link (Part 4):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170648471/2003_-_Treasure-Rit__320k_.part4.rar

Lee Ritenour - The Very Best Of Lee Ritenour (2003)

Smooth jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour gets the "best-of" treatment on this GRP compilation. While longtime fans will most likely already have these tracks, curious listeners may find it a nice place to start. Featuring a cross section of tracks Ritenour recorded during the '90s and early '00s, including "A Little Bumpin'," "Harlequin," and "Wes Bound," the only disappointment is that no new or unreleased cuts were included. However, Ritenour is a consummate jazz-pop melodicist and is still well represented, despite the inadequacies of this collection.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170328989/2003_-_The_Very_Best_Of_Lee_Ritenour__320k_.part1.rar

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http://rapidshare.com/files/170328426/2003_-_The_Very_Best_Of_Lee_Ritenour__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - The Best Of Lee Ritenour (2003)

The Best of Lee Ritenour selects eight highlights from the records the guitarist made for Epic in the '80s. It's a nice sampler, featuring such songs as "Sun Song," "Little Bit of This Land and a Little Bit of That, " "Fly by Night" and "Isn't She Lovely, " which give a good sense of what his stint at the label was like. It's not definitive, but it makes for a good sampler for the curious. [The set was reissued in 2003 with alternate cover art and three bonus tracks.]

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170328631/2003_-_The_Best_Of_Lee_Ritenour__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170327725/2003_-_The_Best_Of_Lee_Ritenour__320k_.part2.rar

Various Artists - A Twist Of Motown (2003)

Japanese edition of 2003 project featuring guitarist Lee Ritenour producing a jazz-friendly tribute to Motown & overseeing an all-star cast that includes George Benson, Gerald Albright, Dave Grusin, Chris Botti, & Bob James, among others. Features 12 tracks including 1 bonus track, 'Medley - War/What's Going On' (Alternative Version). Ladies and gentlemen please please believe me when i tell you that this cd will send you straight to heaven...i have never heard music so glorious and heavenly in my life(40years).This is the way music should be played and all i can say iam blessed to be alive to enjoy this masterpiece.For those lucky few who have an audiophile system like mine with state of the art audio equipment lets all travel to audiophile heaven and enjoy.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170327339/2003_-_A_Twist_Of_Motown__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170324002/2003_-_A_Twist_Of_Motown__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Rit's House (2002)

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.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170328395/2002_-_Rit_s_House__320k_.part1.rar

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http://rapidshare.com/files/170326258/2002_-_Rit_s_House__320k_.part2.rar

A Tribute To Bob Marley - A Twist Of Marley (2001)

Lee Ritenour unveils a new chapter in the legacy of Bob Marley with the release of A Twist of Marlet, a collection of that artist's songs that are sung and played by some of contemporary jazz' hottest stars. Ritenour expands on Marley's essence gleaned from the experiences of such international stars as Jonathan Butler, guitarist Marc Antoine, Gerald Albright, Patti Austin, Richard Bona, Rick Braun, Michael Brecker, Will Downing, Lisa Fischer, Dave Grusin, Phil Perry, and Maxi Priest. They cover such great songs as "Exodus," with Lisa Fischer wailing the lead vocals over samples from Bob Marley & the Wailers. This song is so emotional, so awesome, and features that penetrating cry from the inner recesses of her heart and soul. Ritenour has also added the melodic vocals of Maxi Priest on "Waiting in Vain" and the controversial "I Shot the Sheriff," with a fresh contemporary jazz perspective. On the radio hit "Get Up, Stand Up," Lee Ritenour's smooth guitar playing replaces Marley's vocals on the melody but he hasn't lost one iota of the song's omnipresent civil rights theme. His guitar stylings weep softly and gently and then gain in strength and resilience, symbolizing the significance of Marley and Peter Tosh's heartfelt lyrics. On the R&B version of the same song, Jochem and Digz interpret it their way and do a great take on this soul jazz rendition. Both Will Downing and Jonathan Butler bring credibility to the project with their soulful takes on "Is This Love" and "No Woman No Cry." Lee Ritenour's homage to the artist, composer, and humanitarian is derived from his appreciation of Marley's ability to touch him in many ways and his blend of contemporary jazz with Marley's pure reggae, ska. and soulful beats is skillfully realized. A Twist of Marley is a unique gift to the music world and to present and future fans of Bob Marley.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170328012/2001_-_A_Twist_Of_Marley__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170326390/2001_-_A_Twist_Of_Marley__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin - Two Worlds (2000)

Forging a unique creative relationship, Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin's mutual professional history extends back some two decades. Ritenour was a core artist on Grusin's label, GRP, throughout the 1980s and early '90s; in 1986, they first collaborated on the Grammy Award winning Harlequin, a critically-acclaimed, Brazilian-themed recording. Ritenour also appeared on many of the pianist/composer's film scores and solo recordings, and the two jammed together on GRP Super Live in 1987. Two Worlds, the classical-oriented labor of love that reunites the two legends, is more than simply a beautiful creative departure from their usual jazz-oriented projects. A blend of original compositions and respectful reworkings of timeless classics from Bach, Bartok, Villalobos, Mompov, and Segovia, the collection — which features stellar guest performances by opera star Renee Fleming, violinist Gil Shaham, and cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber — finds Ritenour and Grusin joyously reconnecting with their rich classical roots. Among the highlights are the lush, highly percussive Vivaldi/Bach piece "Bach Concerto, featuring a twenty-piece string section; "Bachianas Aria," a piece from Brazilian composer Villalobos, provides a showcase for opera diva Renee Fleming. As for the original compositions, there's the haunting, melodic "Elegia," which Grusin composed many years ago for his late father, a violinist, featuring Gil Shaham; "Lagrima (Lee's Prelude)," a graceful Ritenour original led by the classical guitar; "River's Song," Grusin's clever medley adaptation of the folk songs "The Water Is Wide" and "Shenandoah," featuring Fleming on vocals and "Canto," an Italian-styled "winter song" which Grusin originally wrote for a Ritenour project in the late '70s. Timeless yet contemporary, Two Worlds is beautiful reunion of these musical soul mates.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170079390/2000_-_Two_Worlds__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170078156/2000_-_Two_Worlds__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - This Is Love (1998)

Lee Ritenour's first solo album for his new i.e. music label is a good one, one of his best actually, whether staying in the strict jazz-lite format that marks a lot of his previous work or straying into the other idioms that pop up here. Whether emulating Wes Montgomery's octaves or curling around in single-string fashion, Ritenour's playing is irresistibly tasty and swinging, perhaps more so than ever, and the material has real melodic interest — more so than anything his former group Fourplay was performing around this time. Among the most interesting swerves off the track are the title tune, which mixes reggae with Montgomery in a very appealing way, and a surprisingly effective closing take on Fauré's "Pavanne." There are extended samples from Sonny Rollins' Alfie score, with "Alfie's Theme" grooving away in a cool, soulful, organ-jazz seam and "Street Runner" tracking Rollins' recording, its quicksilver post-bop clip juxtaposed with repose. On both tracks, Ronnie Foster supplies authentic Hammond B-3 — perhaps fulfilling a Jimmy Smith-meets-Wes Montgomery fantasy. Bill Evans and Ernie Watts take guest turns on tenor on a few cuts; Bob James chips on agreeably on Rhodes electric piano on "Can You Feel It?"; and Ritenour often takes matters into his own hands, programming electronic drums and performing on synthesizers. Hardcore jazzers who wrote Ritenour off as a lightweight ought to hear how he has grown as a mature jazz guitarist on this album.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170080136/1998_-_This_Is_Love__320k_.part1.rar

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http://rapidshare.com/files/170079989/1998_-_This_Is_Love__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Alive In L.A. (1997)

Jazz being the most spontaneous and improvisational of all musical forms, it's often best appreciated in a live setting, where artistry can take over for commercial considerations and jamming for minutes on end is encouraged. Lee Ritenour has enhanced his pop-jazz catalog in recent years with projects featuring tunes that would lend themselves to such creative stretching, and so wraps up his long run at GRP with Alive in L.A., a brilliantly realized, no-overdubs-allowed ensemble date that delves into his diverse interests, from Brazilian to straight-ahead trio jazz and blues. Fans who know him best from his lighthearted radio fare may just be astounded at his chops, which do proud the grand traditions of his idol Wes Montgomery, and even try to reach a bit beyond. Recorded over three nights at the Ash Grove in Santa Monica, CA, Ritenour finds a gang of musicians even more explosive than his Fourplay pals in saxman Bill Evans (who wails heartily on Wes Montgomery's odd metered "4 on 6"), keyboardists Alan Pasqua and Barnaby Finch, and drummer Sonny Emory. Rit's clearly in charge, but it's the energetic company he keeps that makes this a hard-grooving, unforgettable date.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170079860/1997_-_Alive_In_L.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170078986/1997_-_Alive_In_L.part2.rar

Various Artists - A Twist Of Jobim (1997)

The debut release from the I.E. label (which is connected with Polygram) is an unusual multi-artist tribute to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Some of his tunes are made funky (but in a melodic and tasteful way), while others become quiet (but still passionate) ballads. The treatments are all jazz-oriented, and there is plenty of solo space for the likes of guitarist Lee Ritenour (in one of his finest jazz efforts), pianists Dave Grusin and Alan Pasqua, altoist Eric Marienthal, bassist Christian McBride, and tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts. Plus, there are guest spots for Herbie Hancock (an excellent acoustic piano solo on "Stone Flower"), the sopranos of Art Porter (on "Dindi") and Steve Tavaglione, the Yellowjackets (who team up with Ritenour on "Mojave"), singer El DeBarge ("Dindi") and the vocal duo of Al Jarreau and Oleta Adams ("Waters of March" and a lightweight rendition of "The Girl from Ipanema"). Nearly every song holds one's interest, the melodies are celebrated, and the fresh interpretations contain more than their share of surprises.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170078842/1997_-_A_Twist_Of_Jobim__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/170077448/1997_-_A_Twist_Of_Jobim__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour & Larry Carlton - Larry & Lee (1995)

Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour have had parallel careers, but this CD is their first joint meeting on record. The two guitarists complement each other well and there are hints of Wes Montgomery along with a tribute to Joe Pass ("Remembering J.P."), but the songs (all of them their originals) are little more than rhythmic grooves most of the time with the usual fadeouts. The consistently lightweight music is reasonably pleasing but never too stimulating.

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http://rapidshare.com/files/170078994/1995_-_Larry___Lee__320k_.part1.rar

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http://rapidshare.com/files/170078073/1995_-_Larry___Lee__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Wes Bound (1993)

Lee Ritenour, a superior studio guitarist, has recorded very few jazz albums throughout his career, preferring to play melodic pop and light funk. On the rare occasions when he has had an urge to perform jazz, Ritenour has been more than happy to show off the influence of Wes Montgomery; therefore, this tribute is a logical move, even if the results are not all that exciting. Ritenour mostly plays pieces from the later (and more commercial) half of Montgomery's career, along with four of his own originals that are sort of in the tradition. He also hedges his bet a little by throwing in a Bob Marley reggae tune. For jazz listeners who wish to sample some Lee Ritenour, this is one of his better recordings, but why purchase Wes Bound when there are so many more significant Wes Montgomery albums currently in print?

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169745655/1993_-_Wes_Bound__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169744892/1993_-_Wes_Bound__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour, Miki Howard & Roger Powell - Joyride (1991)

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http://rapidshare.com/files/169746856/1991_-_Joyride__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - Collection (1991)

GRP's generally well-chosen 1991 Collection covers an entire decade of Lee Ritenour releases from Elektra and GRP. As such, those years seem to form a late-'70s plateau descending into a commercial valley by the early part of the '80s and then gradually ascending a slope as Rit's playing grows and deepens in the decade's final years. Some of the high points are the Latin-inflected numbers from Festival ("Latin Lover") and Portrait ("Asa") and two excellent straight-ahead excerpts from Stolen Moments ("24th Street Blues," "Waltz for Carmen"), the latter two with lots of Wes Montgomery-like octave work. And even "Is It You?," Ritenour's pop hit from 1981, comes off as a good, catchy piece of record-making. Recommended for those who only want a sample of Lee Ritenour's voluminous solo output.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169746447/1991_-_Collection__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169746078/1991_-_Collection__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Stolen Moments (1990)

After 15 years of guitarist Lee Ritenour primarily playing crossover music, this set of mostly straight-ahead jazz was a surprise. Ritenour always loved Wes Montgomery's playing and on many of these cuts, that influence dominates his sound and style. Assisted by tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts (who usually takes solo honors), pianist Alan Broadbent, bassist John Patitucci (sticking to acoustic) and drummer Harvey Mason, Ritenour performs such numbers as "Stolen Moments," "Haunted Heart," "Blue In Green" and "Sometime Ago," in addition to four originals (including "Waltz for Carmen"). Although not essential music, this is one of the rare Lee Ritenour rare sets that should interest straight-ahead jazz collectors.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169743737/1990_-_Stolen_Moments__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169743418/1990_-_Stolen_Moments__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Color Rit (1989)

Color Rit begins right where Festival left off, with Brazilian-flavored electric jazz and Rit handling the acoustic guitar, but soon veers closer to a more generic L.A.-based series of sounds and textures. Ritenour adds electric guitar to several tracks, although the acoustic instrument dominates the album. Ernie Watts is back on a couple of cuts, but the bulk of the backup is provided by the likes of keyboardists Dave Witham, Larry Williams and Russ Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Johnson, percussionist Paulinho Da Costa and drummer Carlos Vega. "All the Same Tonight," "Malibu" and "I Can't Let Go," with vocals by Phil Perry, thankfully don't sound quite as commercial as previous attempts on earlier Ritenour albums. Yet this CD represents a slight dip for Ritenour at a stage in his career when his albums were gradually becoming classier and more musical.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169742815/1989_-_Color_Rit__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169741081/1989_-_Color_Rit__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Festival (1988)

Ritenour's second acoustic album, like his first, has an overall Brazilian theme but this time, he recorded his ensemble of New York, L.A. and Brazilian musicians in one locale, New York City. This is a superior record to Rio, though, because there is a deeper Brazilian feeling to the arrangements, and Lee's own playing is even more refined and meaningful. "Waiting For You," a solo track on an acoustic guitar synthesizer, is especially attractive. The core crew consists of a collection of pro's pros — Ernie Watts on alto and tenor, Dave Grusin or Bob James on keyboards, Marcus Miller or Anthony Jackson on bass, Omar Hakim on drums, Paulinho Da Costa and Carlinhos Brown on percussion — who lay down smooth yet gently grooving backdrops for Rit to ride. Joao Bosco and Gracinha Leporace contribute fascinating Portuguese vocals to the album's two most appealing and thoroughly Brazilian-flavored tracks, "Latin Lovers" and "Odile, Odila" — and Caetano Veloso brings a softer-focused vocal style to "Linda."

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169413651/1988_-_Festival__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169413305/1988_-_Festival__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Portrait (1987)

Portrait is predominantly a series of encounters between Ritenour and several guest interlopers, presumably to provide a well-rounded stylistic composite. The more heartening result is the acceleration of Ritenour's growth into a tastier, more musical guitarist, whether in the lead or sharing the spotlight. "Asa" is excellent, a fine Djavan tune with the composer's vocals adding immeasurably and possibly inspiring some tasty electric work from Lee — and there is a sweetly-played Brazilian-styled tune, "Windmill," where Rit's playing almost resembles that of Chet Atkins in its smooth deceptive simplicity. "G-Rit" has Kenny G exchanging riffs with the far more inventive Ritenour, but you can tell that Kenny is definitely stoking Lee's engine. There are three tracks with a restrained quorum from Yellowjackets; "White Water" is not bad, has a nice flow, while Jobim's "Children's Games" receives a lovely performance and "Runaway" closes the LP on an attractive note (the CD has an additional cut). One of Rit's better records of the '80s.

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169413503/1987_-_Portrait__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169412700/1987_-_Portrait__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Earth Run (1986)

Dedicated to the First Earth Run, in which runners circled the globe for peace in 1986, Ritenour's 16th solo album was performed on a variety of nine different guitars, counting the peculiarly fuzzy, futuristic sound of the synthaxe. For reasons having little to do with that, and far more to do with more musical playing by Rit, better material and L.A. sessionmen on their game, this is a more interesting record than most of its immediate predecessors. The standout cut here is a welcome cover of Herbie Hancock's "Butterfly; " also worthy of note are the techno-fried quasi-salsa in "The Sauce" and the title cut. Among some of the musicians who appear in the mix are Dave and Don Grusin, Ernie Watts (heard to better effect than usual on Rit's '80s albums), Carlos Vega and Paulinho Da Costa. The sessions sound too processed to allow for much spontaneity, but the Ritenour funk chops do appear more often and more effectively here. The CD version contains an extra tune, "Hero."

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169413484/1986_-_Earth_Run__320k_.part1.rar

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http://rapidshare.com/files/169412397/1986_-_Earth_Run__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin - Harlequin (1985)

Romantic, exotic, intoxicating jazz fusion, quite a few tracks with Brazillian overtones courtesy of engineer turn musician/composer/vocalist Ivan Lins. This is not Antonio Carlos Jobim type breezy, wonderful jazz. But more passionate. Lins married a famous Brazillian beauty and she broke his heart! He turned to song writing and became a respected and popular musician. Here, he collaborates with Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour and their regulars like harvey Mason, Don Grusin(Dave's Brother) etc. Digitally recorded and mastered at Dave's GRP studio, it sounds good, off course, like ALL GRP recordings. Early AM attitude is the most popular track on this disc. Composed by Grusin, you might have heard it before on radio etc. But the Entire disc is excellant. Ritenour also wrote a few tarck. Lins wrote 3 and sings as well(in Brazillian, though he does sing in English in his subsequent albums).

Download-Link (Part 1):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169413094/1985_-_Harlequin__320k_.part1.rar

Download-Link (Part 2):

http://rapidshare.com/files/169412968/1985_-_Harlequin__320k_.part2.rar

Lee Ritenour - Banded Together (1984)

Lee Ritenour goes techno/pop/rock on an album originally released on the pop Elektra label — and as such is not recommended to jazz fans with a low tolerance for the stuff. Here Captain Fingers extends his reach to play keyboards and programmed electronic drums on a few tracks, along with very competent rock guitar — to little effect, for the material is just not very interesting. Indeed, in a telling move, two songs from the previous record, On the Line, are actually recycled here ("Rit Variations II," " Heavenly Bodies"); the former comes off a little better in machine-driven, techno-pop manner. Ernie Watts' protean sax talents are wasted, Eric Tagg and John Massaro's high-pitched pop voices are hard to tell apart without a scorecard, and the largely electronic backing never meets a real groove that it can find. And no hits result anyway.

Download-Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/169414502/1984_-_Banded_Together__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - On The Line (1983)

With JVC midwifing again for the insatiable jazz fans of Japan, Ritenour aims to please — this time with a series of live-in-the-studio tracks that were recorded with a supermarket of audiophile processes (direct to disk, direct to digital, direct to analog tape). The analog tape version is the one that Elektra/Musician put out in the U.S. later in 1983 — and it's a rather slight piece of L.A. electric-jazz work, not worth the extra engineering effort. Perhaps they were inhibited by the direct-to-whatever conditions, but then perhaps not, for they're all battle-tested session pros (Ernie Watts, Dave and Don Grusin, Harvey Mason, Nathan East, Anthony Jackson, Greg Mathiesen, Steve Forman, Lenny Castro and Rit himself). The real power failure lies in the ordinary material, which no synthesizer growls or Rit's versatile technique can enliven for long (though "Dolphin Dreams" has some pretty moments). Ambition rears its head when "The Rit Variations" are launched by a neobaroque theme by Spanish composer Federico Mompou, but the track soon slips into the land of cliché.

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http://rapidshare.com/files/169350596/1983_-_On_The_Line__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - Rit 2 (1982)

Lee Ritenour didn't seem to shy away from the fact that this 1982 follow on from Rit was based on the same template as its predecessor. Indeed, you only have to look at the title of the album and the interesting cover artwork to get the message. There aren't so many personnel on board this time round though and the album is performed by "The Lee Ritenour Band" with Ritenour himself on electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, bass & guitar synthesizers and OBX drums, Eric Tagg again on lead vocals and keyboards, Harvey Mason on drums, percussion & rhythm arrangements, Don Grusin on keyboards and Nathan East on bass. (What we have here in fact, is three quarters of what was later to become known as Fourplay). Trumpeter and flugelhorn man Jerry Hey also returns to take care of string and horn arrangements on most of the songs. The songs also take the same format and running order, more or less. Thus, the album opens with two pop vocal tunes just like its predecessor did and "Dreamwalkin'" & "Keep It Alive" sound very similar, in terms of tempo and vibe, to "No Sympathy" & "Is It You?", for instance, and on and on it goes. I have no complaints though. For one, I enjoyed "Rit" so much the idea of a "Rit" part II was a very welcome one at the time. Besides, the new tracks while (maybe) written on a similar template are original and fresh enough to survive on their own merits. That said, I do have more love for the instrumental tracks here than I do for the vocal ones. (On "Rit" it was a pretty equal love for both). My favourites are "A Fantasy" (with the way it fades in, all thumping bass & drums, wailing guitars & synthesizers), "On The Boardwalk", "Road Runner" and "Malibu" (with strings arranged by Johnny Mandel), a tune I used to feel haunted by for years after I first heard it for some reason - but haunted in a good way. I also like "Tied Up" quite a lot. This is another 5 star golden oldie that doesn't waste any time. At 40mins and 9secs, it's slightly longer than "Rit" but it's still a quickie by today's standards. The music is so good though, I tend not to notice. But I do have one quibble: "On The Boardwalk" does not fade in like it does on my LP version, or indeed on the version I had on cassette before that. I always loved the way The Life Choir's vocals, singing "La-la, la-la," over and over, seemed to just creep up on me, as if from nowhere. On the CD, they just start. It's a minor irritant but an irritant nonetheless and it's for this reason that I've decided I'm going to hang on to my vinyl copy. It might be worth a lot of money one day anyway.

Download-Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/169351379/1982_-_Rit_2__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - Rit (1981)

Session ace Lee Ritenour once more employs the cream of L.A.'s studio crop to come up with a drab, utterly unimaginative slab of nondescript pop. With guest vocalists like Eric Tagg and Bill Champlin (who also contribute as composers), Ritenour and his cohorts -- among them Jeff Porcaro, Harvey Mason, David Foster, Alex Acuña, and Richard Tee -- craft a pristine sonic foray into early-'80s production styles without a memorable song in ten. This is especially exasperating considering that Ritenour had the audacity to cover Sly Stone's "(You Caught Me) Smilin'" and murder it. Simply lifeless and dreadful.

Download-Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/169351253/1981_-_Rit__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - Rio (1979)

Recorded by JVC for the Japanese market, first released in the U.S. by Elektra, and now on GRP, Ritenour's first all-acoustic guitar album was recorded in three far-flung cities with three different bands (how's that for musical chairs in packs of three?). The New York tracks, which feature Dave Grusin (keyboards) and Marcus Miller on popping bass, have a nice genteel funky flavor not unlike Larry Carlton's acoustic albums in the next decade. The Rio tracks, with a Brazilian rhythm section and Don Grusin's keyboards, differ only marginally in feeling, mostly in the use of percussion. Out in Santa Barbara, CA, "Ipanema Sol" sounds even more Brazilian than the Rio tracks, as colored by the flute of Ernie Watts and the percussion battery of Alex Acuna and Steve Forman, while Joe Sample's "It Happens Everyday" closes the set on a lyrical note. For all of its continent-trotting ways, the record is remarkably unified — thanks in no small part to Ritenour's intelligent, beautifully felt playing — and makes comfortable listening.

Download-Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/169350091/1979_-_Rio__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - Feel The Night (1979)

Feel the Night is one of the albums that established guitarist Lee Ritenour for crossover jazz and jazz-pop audiences.

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http://rapidshare.com/files/169348469/1979_-_Feel_The_Night__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - The Captain's Journey (1978)

Guitarist Lee Ritenour had just switched from Epic to Elektra when he cut Captain's Journey in 1978. It was a followup to the successful crossover work Captain Fingers and used a similar strategy: tight, hook-laden arrangements, polished production, and minimal solo space. What individual things it has are dominated by Ritenour, a supremely talented guitarist who doesn't display that much of it with these arrangements.

Download-Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/169350105/1978_-_The_Captain_s_Journey__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - Friendship (1978)

The third of three Lee Ritenour sets originally cut for Japanese JVC and in 1991 reissued domestically on CD matches the studio guitarist with what could be called the "Crossover All-Stars": Ernie Watts (on tenor and soprano), both Dave and Don Grusin on keyboards, electric bassist Abraham Laboriel, drummer Steve Gadd and percussionist Steve Forman. They perform pleasant but somewhat forgettable originals by Rit, Watts and both Grusins, the kind of lightly funky background music that one would expect from expert studio players.

Download-Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/169348545/1978_-_Friendship__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - Gentle Thoughts (1977)

Between the popular Captain Fingers and his follow-up Rio, crossover guitarist Lee Ritenour recorded a trio of sets for the Japanese JVC label; each of the three have since been reissued on CD. This date matches Ritenour with his pickup group of the time, which was called "the Gentle Thoughts." The lineup is impressive (including Ernie Watts on tenor, soprano and flute, both Patrice Rushen and Dave Grusin on keyboards, electric bassist Anthony Jackson, drummer Harvey Mason and percussionist Steve Forman), but the music is typically lightweight. Rit's fans will be interested to hear a different version of "Captain Fingers" and the guitarist's interpretation of "Feel Like Makin' Love" and Herbie Hancock's "Gentle Thoughts," but most of the playing is best served by being used as moderately funky background music.

Download-Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/169348648/1977_-_Gentle_Thoughts__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - Captain Fingers (1977)

A great player shows how easily he can handle trite pop.

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http://rapidshare.com/files/169350337/1977_-_Captain_Fingers__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour - First Course (1976)

In the first flush of a blossoming career as a first-call studio guitarist, Ritenour set out to become a solo artist as well in this artifact of the early L.A. jazz/funk sound. He rounded up some of his pals from the Baked Potato club in Studio City — including the archetypical funk drummer Harvey Mason, keyboardists Dave Grusin and Patrice Rushen and horn stalwarts like Tom Scott, Chuck Findley and Frank Rosolino. At this early stage, Ritenour's own identity is still quite diffuse; he knows how to establish a fine rhythm groove but his tone is generic in a mostly rock-oriented vein. The arrangements are tightly set, very much of their funky time in the wake of the Headhunters and L.A. Express, yet these tracks convey a vicarious energy that lift them above the journeyman level. There is also a very pretty interlude for classical guitar, "Memories Past," and a sweet rendition of Jobim's little known "Ohla Maria" set in velvet, reminders that Lee's versatility dates back to his earliest professional days.

Download-Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/169348424/1976_-_First_Course__320k_.rar

Lee Ritenour biography

Lee Ritenour has long been the perfect studio musician, one who can melt into the background without making any impact. While he possesses impressive technique, Ritenour has mostly played instrumental pop throughout his career, sometimes with a Brazilian flavor. His few jazz efforts have found him essentially imitating Wes Montgomery, but despite that he has been consistently popular since the mid-'70s. After touring with Sergio Mendes' Brasil '77 in 1973, Ritenour became a very busy studio guitarist in Los Angeles, taking time off for occasional tours with his groups and in the mid-'90s with Bob James in Fourplay. He also recorded many albums as a leader including Portraits (1987), Wes Bound (1992), Larry & Lee with Larry Carlton (1994), This is Love (1997), Overtime (2005) and Smoke 'N' Mirrors (2006).

Madman asked me what kind of help am I talking about. I'm writing the answer here in case anyone else will be interested...
I wish to keep uploading the discographies of the good guitar players on regular basis. So I would like to meet someone who has the same desire and is also able to do this often. We could share the "work" and this blog could be a shared project of the fans of this kind of music.

Until now I was mostly uploading the discographies of the Blues-Rock guitar players. Now I will share with you the discographies of some of the Jazz guitar players that I like.