This contemporary jazz guitarist--who calls Portland, Oregon, home--offers evidence of the area's high musical standards with a lush 13-song set that, as the title suggest, conjures visual images of geographical areas and its natural beauty. Among his A-list of players are bassist and violinist Rob Thomas, who excels on "One Blue Pearl, and saxophonist Michael Bard, who once led a groundbreaking contemporary jazz band that included Steve Rodby and Paul Wertico, who later struck a claim as rhythm section for the Pat Metheny Group. Newton does have his own unique voice on acoustic, but composition-wise, on the first few electric selections, dubbed Scene I, there are some similarities to southwest-twangy music that's become Bill Frisell's stock in trade, particularly on "Details at Eleven," the ballad "Mr. Pachelbel Takes a Vacation," and the Celtic-colored "There Was a Time." On Short Films, Newton contrasts an overt classical romanticism and high energy, long melodic lines on more uptempo numbers like "Global Village," and the anthem "To Fight the Good Fight." It's no wonder that Newton is a licensed music therapist, because his is music that soothes and inspires without seeking a lowest musical denominator. --Mark Ruffin
Short Films,Cam Newton,Summit(Classical),Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Post-Bop
Jazz Music:
- Songs For The Soul, from the best selling book, 'Shoes For The Spirit, Encouragements'
- Sound System
- Spirituals
- Tenor Madness [Gold CD]
- The Best of Art Tatum: Tea for Two
- The Best of Mel Torme: Blues in the Night
- The Best of the Big Bands
- The Clarke/Duke Project, Vol. 1
- The Gotham Beat: Big Bands Swing New York!
- The Man With the Horn
Jazz Music
Marais: La Rêveuse, & autres pièces de viole / Sophie Watillon
Music: Haydn/Schubert: Piano Sonatas
Imperfect List [CD-single] [Import]