With Eubanks, Promise of Tomorrow isn't even one of his strongest albums--if you like that one, I'm sure you would like quite a few of the others. Face to Face featured Marcus Miller on some of the tracks, and others were duets with bassist Ron Carter; string arrangements were by Dave Grusin. The Heat of Heat has a little bit more of a funk feel to some of the tracks--the songwriting on some of the tunes is my favorite among his albums. Shadow Prophets was produced by fellow guitarist George Benson. Opening Night features Branford Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland, and is actually more similar to his work post-GRP. I've always felt that even when he is playing straightahead jazz (as he does on Live at Bradley's), he is still accessible enough that even casual jazz listeners can find something to like. Funny that these are expensive online, but used record stores I've seen these at are usually inexpensive.
His newest recording from this past April, East West Time Line, actually reminds me a lot of Opening Night and has some fantastic playing on it. This one is unique in that the first five tracks are with an east coast (NYC-based) group featuring Dave Holland, Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums), Orrin Evans (piano), and Nicholas Payton (trumpet), and has a sharper, edgier feel to it, recording five new Eubanks compositions. The second five are from a west coast group, recorded in L.A., featuring Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums), bassist Rene Camacho, percussionist Mino Cinelu and saxophonist Bill Pierce, and are all cover versions. "Captain Señor Mouse" is a Chick Corea composition from the Return to Forever era, and in one of Eubanks' clever arrangements, is almost indistinguishable from the original. (The T.J.B. also covered it under the title "Señor Mouse.") "Cubano Chant" (a Latin tune covered by a few artists back in the day) makes an appearance. Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On" is covered also, in an unexpected swift-tempo arrangement (it works!), and "Take The Coltrane" is a different spin on Ellington's "Take the A Train"; the final track is the pop standard "My One and Only Love."
The album is a winner IMHO and arguably his best since he started recording post-Tonight Show (for Mack Avenue Records).
His newest recording from this past April, East West Time Line, actually reminds me a lot of Opening Night and has some fantastic playing on it. This one is unique in that the first five tracks are with an east coast (NYC-based) group featuring Dave Holland, Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums), Orrin Evans (piano), and Nicholas Payton (trumpet), and has a sharper, edgier feel to it, recording five new Eubanks compositions. The second five are from a west coast group, recorded in L.A., featuring Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums), bassist Rene Camacho, percussionist Mino Cinelu and saxophonist Bill Pierce, and are all cover versions. "Captain Señor Mouse" is a Chick Corea composition from the Return to Forever era, and in one of Eubanks' clever arrangements, is almost indistinguishable from the original. (The T.J.B. also covered it under the title "Señor Mouse.") "Cubano Chant" (a Latin tune covered by a few artists back in the day) makes an appearance. Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On" is covered also, in an unexpected swift-tempo arrangement (it works!), and "Take The Coltrane" is a different spin on Ellington's "Take the A Train"; the final track is the pop standard "My One and Only Love."
The album is a winner IMHO and arguably his best since he started recording post-Tonight Show (for Mack Avenue Records).
)
And the eBay seller I linked to in the Black Friday thread had it for even less.
