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Lee Ritenour: Behind a "Twist of Rit"

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By Belinda Ware
December 4, 2015
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We twisted, flipped and reconstructed these songs with a twelve-piece band.
—Lee Ritenour

Lee Ritenour is a musical talent who approaches jazz as an artist does a canvas. He takes time to explore colorful arrangements within each song he records mixing various degrees of fusion, rock, blues, and funk based on the feel of the song. Ritenour has become a master of his own style in creating music that reflects the story of each song he performs through the instrument of the guitar. He has an innate passion to create message music that ebbs and flows on the wave of the instrumental melody. In a subtle way, he has found his own way to make the guitar sing.

As a professional song writer and contemporary guitarist, Ritenour is a romantic at heart. He makes it a point to go beneath the surface of the beginning of an improvisation where he finds emotion in the motion. He is comfortable in his translation of poignant insight from his creative flow through the guitar. In his studio sessions, he finds inspiration in breaking barriers and connecting styles through mixing guitar effects that have become signature to his unique style of playing.

A Twist of Rit (Concord Music, 2015) is more than an official record release. This particular project represents a collection of songs compiled through thoughtful reflection and inventive collaborations with friends and peers. In this project, Ritenour has discovered a refreshing way to reinvent previously released songs mixed with new songs making it all fresh and vibrant in today's music scene.

A Twist of Rit is message music without the use of words. The arrangements throughout the project are exemplary of Ritenour's art of improvisation. Each song represents a personal conversation with Ritenour in the key of life where he shares aspects about his daydreams, perspectives and personal identity. The overall project is exemplary of a polished compilation of his favorite songs performed with some of his closest colleagues on the roster.

In the planning of this CD from start to finish, Ritenour went into a personal, creative space and conceptualized the idea of combining new tracks along with a few previously released records that he re-recorded with a band made up of his closest colleagues resulting in a Twist of Rit, (Concord Music Group, 2015). It is interesting to note that Ritenour has released several cd's titled "A Twist of, "one honoring

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim, another honoring

Bob Marley

guitar
1945 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Marley and a third project honoring Motown.

The collection of songs on this new "Twist" project embody a potpourri of artistic collaborations with features from an array of talent including

John Beasley

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">John Beasley,

Dave Grusin

piano
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Grusin,

Paulinho Da Costa

percussion
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Paulinho Da Costa,

Wah Wah Watson

" data-original-title="" title="">Wah Wah Watson and

Patrice Rushen

keyboards
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Patrice Rushen. The resulting CD release exemplifies a unique blend of all-star talent fused into a compressed wave of modern smooth jazz, funk and jazz fusion.

"Ooh Yeah" is a remake of the original track released from Ritenour's album, This is Love. Ritenour combines neo-soul and smooth jazz fusion in a rich, rhythmic foundation that stands as a musical experience that can be compared to a cup of soulful jazz. His use of octaves in select areas of the song accent the emotional depth of this track while acknowledging the style of one of his mentors,

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery.

"Ooh Yeah" flows with solid modern arrangements that build with emotional zest, energy and personality. Ritenour's expressive octave runs break out a jam in his solo section that grooves in the cut creating the foundation of the layered melodies and harmonies that carry this delightful track from start to finish.

On "Sweet Syncopation," Ritenour immerses the listener into progressive guitar riffs as he explores improvisational moments surrounded by a

Tower of Power

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Tower of Power vibe in sound that solidifies this track as bringing '70's R&B and jazz forward with a modern flavor in its arrangements.

Ritenour explores the use of guitar effects in just the right areas on this track. The rich tone of his melodic leads on the guitar ride upon the funky foundation of soaring trumpet runs and bass riffs building the song effortlessly in the evolution of the groove.

Ritenour delivers a gliding arrangement on the track "Soaring," originally recorded on his previous cd, "Earth Run." "Soaring" is a song that can be listened to riding on an open highway. It is a song that can be enjoyed while watching the sunrise. This song has an unspoken message in its rhythm, tempo and tone that elevates the listener to a cloud space for relaxation and quiet time. "Soaring" builds in its harmonic progressions like a wave on the ocean rising to new heights of awareness and expression through Ritenour's improvisational moments. This song celebrates all of life's possibilities. It is a thoughtful song perfumed with the celebration of the newness of each moment.

From the CD Rit. Vol 1, Ritenour reintroduces "Countdown" with an effervescent tempo and feel. The song is an instrumental storytelling moment about the joy of experiencing success and fulfillment. Ritenour's arrangements include effects that are reflective of the musical style of Roger Troutman through musical, melodic and tonal expression. The song tells the story of perseverance through Ritenour's expressive melodic runs that speak pure music.

"Pearl" is a special song that serenades the beauty of motherhood. This particular song stands out as a personal recording dedicated to Ritenour's mother. This song is heartfelt, thoughtful,and relatable. This comes through in his instrumental flow. The soft touch on the percussion that supports Ritenour's gentle lyrical flow is easy and smooth to listen to.

"Wild Rice" combines rock, blues, and jazz fusion in the lead arrangements of Ritenour's guitar work. The track features solid sax improvisations combined with progressive guitar leads that help create a dynamic musical track.

"Worknit" is a mid-tempo tune with the guitar and organ up front on leads creating a mix that has a soulful feel to it. The intro's gospel blues blend creates the foundation of the moving instrumental arrangements that are funky from top to finish. The message through the instrumental flow on this track conveys the rise of an emerging energy in the frequency of funky jazz.

Ritenour is multilingual in his understanding and use of contemporary jazz, classic jazz, rock, soul, and blues as a instrumentalist. Ritenour's success comes largely from his joy for life shared through his artistic expression through music.

Ritenour's inner child is in tact with his pure approach to music as he steps out on an open platform to share new ideas when it comes to mixing sounds and genres in innovative ways.

Ritenour continues to unveil new beginnings in his musical releases as seen in Twist of Rit. He is in tune with his inner creativity which continues to evolve itself through song exploration and his willingness to explore the unknown. He continues to build music upon the solid foundation of jazz with an eye for the aesthetics. The project overall reflects Ritenour's musical celebration of the essence of life as interpreted in the honest expressive moments caught on mp3 that are indeed universal in their translation and groove.

It can be said that these recordings are pure in their essential character showing the range in depth of intellectual creativity. He takes down the wall between the artist and music listener with this project and he opens up as a trusted friend allowing the world in to get to know him personally as Lee Ritenour, the man, the storyteller, and the musician.

For Ritenour, Twist of Rit is a celebration of the power of music and the art of musical improvisation reflective of the innovative depth of Ritenour as the man behind the MP3s.

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