Thom Rotella - A Day In The Life (2002)

Thom Rotella is a guitarist with a fluid, Wes Montgomery-influenced sound, and 'A Day In The Life' is a collection of light yet very engaging smooth-jazz tunes. Rotella opens the album with the title track, a gently grooving rendition of the Beatles classic. Rather than perform a paint-by-numbers version like many other smooth-jazz artists, he chooses to put his own stamp on it by establishing the familiar melody and then getting creative with it. On the dramatic "Baka," Rotella's rhythmic playing is set over tribal percussion, and the lively funk tune "A Different Story" features bouncy piano by keyboardist Roger Smith. Rotella's graceful acoustic-guitar work and Steve Madaio's muted trumpet set the mood on the dusky ballad "Candlelight," and Rotella's solo acoustic guitar showcase, "Day Song," is a bright, catchy delight. This isn't the most memorable collection of melodies you'll hear this year, but 'A Day In The Life' is a very enjoyable, if a bit evanescent, recording. ~ Lucy Tauss, JazzTimes.com. 

Trippin' N Rhythm, 64494-90512-2, 2002 

Musicians:
Thom Rotella - Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Drum Programming
Bill Churchville - Trumpet [Muted]
Steve Madaio - Horn, Trumpet, Trumpet [Muted]
Tom Saviano - Tenor Saxophone, Horn
Nick Lane - Horn
Bill Champlin - Organ
Jim Studer - Keyboards, Synthesizer, Synthesizer Arrangements
Brad Cole - Drum & Keyboard Programming, Keyboards, String Arrangements
Roger Smith - Keyboards
Randy Tico, Stan Sargeant, Vail Johnson - Bass
Tom Walsh, Land Richards - Drums
Chris Rhyne, Julian Bunetta - Drum Programming, Keyboards, Synthesizer
Arno Lucas, Michael Fisher - Percussion 

Tracks:
01. A Day In The Life {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (3:51)
02. All B Cause Of You {Thom Rotella} (4:22)
03. Look But Don't Touch {Thom Rotella, Tom Saviano} (3:42)
04. K.I.G. Vamp {Thom Rotella, Tom Saviano} (0:28)
05. Candlelight {Thom Rotella} (4:29)
06. A Different Story {Thom Rotella, Tom Saviano} (3:53)
07. Only 4 One Moment {Thom Rotella} (4:25)
08. Keep It Goin' {Thom Rotella, Tom Saviano} (5:07)
09. Baka {Thom Rotella} (4:20)
10. The Little Things {Thom Rotella} (4:30)
11. All 4 You {Thom Rotella, Tom Saviano} (4:14)
12. As The Night {Thom Rotella} (4:29)
13. Day Song {Thom Rotella} (3:18)
14. The Beginning {Thom Rotella} (1:05) 

Total Time: 52:13 

Credits:
Producer - Thom Rotella, Synthesizer Arrangements
Producer - Tom Saviano, Horn & Synthesizer Arrangements
Producer (#10) - Julian and Peter Bunetta
Engineer - Mark Lindenberg
Mixing - Matt Hyde
Mastering - Bernie Becker
Cover Photo - Kelvin Jones
Design - Barbara Cooper