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Doug Munro: Putt Lake Toodleloo

By Mike Jurkovic
November 25, 2022
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In unsettled and unsettling times, it is a relief to know that Putt Lake Toodleloo is within easy reach. Its humble stance, breezy accessibility and easy familiarity serve as a respite from the dark anxious winds that gather.

Two-time Grammy nominee and NAIRD award winner, guitarist/educator/composer/author

Doug Munro

guitar
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Doug Munro, who founded the Purchase College Jazz Studies program and served as its director from 1993—2002, leads his spirited octet, the La Pompe Attack, through a swaying mix of originals and tried and true chestnuts for a mix that neither challenges nor fatigues, but simply lowers the blood pressure, takes a few deep breaths, and pours a glass of wine for the weary.

Munro, who over the years has contributed to the music of

Dr. John

piano
1940 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Dr. John,

Michael Brecker

saxophone, tenor
1949 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Brecker,

Steve Khan

guitar
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Khan and

Dr. Lonnie Smith

organ, Hammond B3
1942 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Dr. Lonnie Smith, wears his heart (gypsy swing, soul and latin jazz) and his influence (

Django Reinhardt

guitar
1910 - 1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Django Reinhardt) unabashedly on his sleeve, making Putt Lake Toodleloo an uplifting, cheerful listen. The psychedelic grunge of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" becomes a delightful gypsy dance.

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's unflagging "Black Nile" eases in, eases out and sets the flow for the delightful original wordplay guitar mashup interplay of "Cast Your Fate to the Wind Cried Mary," Lennon-McCartney's ragtime throwback "Honey Pie" a 12-bar send up of "Down By the Riverside, " and such bouncy, energetic originals as "Psycho Samba" and "Struttin."

And so the album (Munro's twentieth as a leader) sails along as La Pompe Attack—

Albert Rivera

saxophone, tenor
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Rivera, saxophone,

Michael Goetz

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Goetz, bass, drummers

Ian Carroll

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Ian Carroll and

Jon Doty

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Doty and its small guitar army of Munro,

Vinny Raniolo

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Vinny Raniolo,

Ernie Pugliese

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Pugliese,

Ted Gottsegen

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Ted Gottsegen and

Ben Wood

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Wood—makes the music comfortable, irresistible, and, perhaps most importantly, impossible not to smile along to.

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Track Listing

Putt Lake Toodleloo; Traffic Jam; Rhumba Gitane; I'm Confessin'; Struttin'; Psycho Samba; Castyourfatetothewindcriedmary; Doug's Bolero; Black Hole Sun; Black Nilke; Manior De Mes Reves (Django's Castle); Honey Pie; Down By The Riverside.

Personnel

Doug Munro

guitar

Albert Rivera

saxophone, tenor

Ted Gottsegen

guitar

Ben Wood

guitar

Vinny Raniolo

guitar

Ernie Pugliese

guitar

Michael Goetz

bass, acoustic

Ian Carroll

drums

Jon Doty

drums

Album information

Title: Putt Lake Toodleloo | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: GotMusic Records

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