Jazz / Jazz-Funk, Crossover Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Guitar Jazz
Ray Obiedo - Keyboards, Guitar (Baritone), Arranger, Guitar, Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Drum Programming, Piano
Becky West Vocals
Bill Ortiz Trumpet
Bob Mintzer Sax (Tenor)
Celso Alberti Cymbals
Curtis Ohlson Bass
David Garibaldi Drum Programming
Henry Mancini Performer
Jenny Meltzer Vocals
Jon Bendich Conga
Karl Perazzo Tamborim, Guiro, Timbales
Ken Lee Mastering
Marc Van Wageningen Bass
Michael Collopy Photography
Michael Spiro Pandeiro, Shaker, Tamborim, Quica
Nelson Braxton Bass
Norbert Stachel Sax (Tenor)
Pete Escovedo Shakere, Conga, Shaker, Wood Block
Peter Horvath Piano
Sandy Cressman Vocals
What's amazing about Obiedo is that, despite his crack electric guitar ability, he loves sharing the spotlight with his all-star guests. Among these for example harmonica legend Toots Thielemans, Saxman Bob Mintzer and trumpeter Bill Ortiz.
Even as a child growing up in Richmond, California, Ray Obiedo somehow knew his life would be dedicated to discovering and creating new musical joys. Currently one of San Francisco's premier jazz guitarists, with four successful albums under his belt, Ray becomes a member of the Domo family.
Demonstrating an exceptional talent for mystically melding urban jazz with Brazilian funk and dynamic Carribbean rhythms, Ray has developed a very unique and distinctive guitar signature. His reputation for musical excellence, versatility and raw rhythmic creativity has earned him countless session gigs with Herbie Hancock, George Duke and Rodney Franklin.
Modern World serves up a delightfully uplifting homage to his rhythm and blues roots with generous portions of his trademark Latin-jazz grooves that will satisfy virtually every jazz palate.
One of Windham Hill's core jazz guitarists long before the label became a smooth jazz haven, Ray Obiedo jumps ship to a new label but offers up the same appealing mix of in-the-pocket radio-ready niceties (the bubbly and melodic "Carousel") and more aggressive and exotic Latin extravaganzas like "Sunset." While Obiedo is effective at communicating easy pop-oriented messages, he's at his best when challenging himself. "Sunset" finds him in a note-for-note duet with the unmistakable Caribbean steel pan sounds of Andy Narell as wordless female vocals -- and some dense percussion provided by Pete Escovedo and others -- soar and swirl in the background. Narell then carries the tune further alongside the amazing flute of Norbert Stachel. What's amazing about Obiedo is that, despite his crack electric guitar ability, he loves sharing the spotlight with his all-star guests. Chief among these is harmonica legend Toots Thielemans, who carries the middle verses of "Slow Hot Wind" -- a meditative arrangement of the Henry Mancini classic -- on a lazy but passionate breeze. Obiedo also kicks back on the title track and lets it become a playground for saxman Bob Mintzer and flutist Stachel to bounce off of each other. That song also features a honking trumpet solo by Bill Ortiz. Although on some tracks you might wonder just whose disc this is, Obiedo returns to the sort of unique experimentation (within a melodic framework) that characterized some of his best Windham Hill recordings. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide |
