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Nate Najar: This Is Nate Najar
By
Chick Corea
piano1941 - 2021

Antonio Carlos Jobim
piano1927 - 1994
Early influences on Najar's were such icons as

Wes Montgomery
guitar1923 - 1968

Django Reinhardt
guitar1910 - 1953

Charlie Byrd
guitar1925 - 1999

Duke Ellington
piano1899 - 1974
John Lamb
bassb.1933

Matt Home
drumsb.1973

James Suggs
trumpetThe music begins with Najar strumming the unamplified guitar in the introduction to Corea's "500 Miles High," a journey that takes off with Suggs trumpet phrases, Lamb's delicate bass lines and features more of the leader's handy work. Offering splendid finger play on the strings, the original "What Would Ola Mae Do?" displays a mid-tempo groove with the trumpeter on the muted horn to make it interesting. The Corea influence emerges again on "Chick's Tune" and the finale "Crystal Silence" while Najar's penchant for the Brazilian flair comes across with a stylish rendition of Jobim's famous "Insensatez" and an extended version of "O Morro Nao Tem Vez (Favela)."
The soft spot of the album goes to the warm Suggs original "But Oh, what love!" where the trumpeter plays softly as the leader executes intricate chords on a beautiful and sensitive love ballad setting the stage for Harry Edison's humbling down tempo "Centerpiece" rounding out a varied and creative ten-piece repertoire that's quite engaging. Not yet familiar with this musician, This Is Nate Najar will provide one with an exciting introduction to one of the finest classical guitarist in the business today on a set of music that swings lightly with a touch of class. ">
Track Listing
500 Miles High; What Would Ola Mae Do?; Sidewalks of New York; Prelude In E Minor (Op.28 No, 4); Insensatez (How Insensitive); Chick's Tune; But Oh, what Love!; Centerpiece; O Morro Nao Tem Vez (Favela); Crystal Silence.
Personnel
Nate Najar
guitar, acousticNate Najar: unamplified guitar; James Suggs: trumpet; John Lamb: bass; Matt Home: drums; Mark Feinmann: drums (5); Ella Fredrickson: cello (5).
Album information
Title: This Is Nate Najar | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Candid Records
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