MEIR SHITRIT — Way (review)

MEIR SHITRIT — Way album cover Album · 2012 · World Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
Although some might consider the terms smooth jazz and pop jazz synonymous, there can actually be quite a difference. Smooth jazz is a production style, a sometimes heavy handed attempt to induce a “relaxed” mood. Pop jazz, on the other hand, just means jazz with a tune and style that leans in a pop direction, but doesn’t necessarily imply the sort of energy draining qualities that often go with the smooth jazz sound. Artists like Ramsey Lewis and Wes Montgomery have put out excellent high energy creative pop jazz albums over the years, which is my lead in to this excellent modern pop jazz album, “Way”, by Israeli guitarist Meir Shitrit. “Way” is modern pop jazz with a pronounced international flavor as Meir not only pulls influence from his native Israel, but also India, Turkey and the US. Being a long time fan of Indo fusion music, if I did not have this artist’s bio, I would have guessed this was an Indian album. There is a beautiful languid flow to the rhythms and the melodies are often counter-pointed in a distinctly Indian style.

Meir is a virtuoso guitarist, and occasionally he’ll fire off a rapid solo or riff that is sure to please the fusion crowd. He handles a wide variety of “axes’ on here, but I especially enjoy the snaky sound of his lap steel guitar. This being a melodic album, it does help that the melodies on here are excellent, catchy without being cloy or overly simple. This CD has been getting a lot of spins for me lately, it doesn’t wear out easily and has a nice buoyant effect. Although most of this album centers around an Indo/Middle Eastern fusion sound, towards the end of “Way”, Meir digs into some funky RnB with a strong but slinky guitar sound that recalls Jeff Beck and Oz Noy. The future looks good for Meir Shitrit, this is an excellent debut CD and the production is bright and strong without a trace of smooth jazz gratuitous compression and reverb.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Beyond The Warrior's Eyes Jazz Related Rock
BRIAN TARQUIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sued, Nandayapa, Bergmann, Saunders : Mad Dream Avant-Garde Jazz
BRUCE SAUNDERS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Juno What It Is Jazz Related Electronica/Hip-Hop
MATT TWADDLE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Blue House Session Soul Jazz
MUNEER NASSER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Camera Obscura Post-Fusion Contemporary
PIERRE VAIANA
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Nasser's Blues
MUNEER NASSER
js· 4 hours ago
Juno What Time It is
MATT TWADDLE
js· 23 hours ago
Sukeza Band - When She Dreams
SUKEZA BAND
js· 2 days ago
Zac Harmon - Stop the Killing
ZAC HARMON
js· 2 days ago
Richard x Bennett - SCAVENGER in 6 parts
RICHARD X BENNETT
js· 4 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed