Pacific
OA2, 2023
10/10
An artist with a penchant for jazz guitar sounds, the always impressive Frank Kohl brings his influence from legends like Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall and Pat Martino to these 13 colorful tracks.
“Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You” opens the listen with Kohl’s shimmering guitar that radiates much beauty and grace in its meticulous nature, and “With Tears Of Joy” follows with an emotional component that unfolds with melodic progressions.
Moving along, “Pacific Journey” finds a dreamy place to reside via Kohl’s stunning finger acrobatics, while “Idle Moments”, by Duke Pearson, emits a stirring intimacy thanks to the heartfelt delivery.
Landing close to the end, “Time After Time” puts a fresh coat of paint on the 1947 song, where Kohl does justice to Jule Styne’s vision, and “When I Fall In Love”, written by Victor Young and popularized by Nat King Cole and his daughter, retains the romantic spirit of the original.
An album where both the originals and interpretations radiate a tremendous amount of skill, Kohl’s 2nd album of solo guitar and 7th overall is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Travels well with: Russel Kranes/Alex Levine/Sam Weber/Jay Sawyer- Anchor Points; Affinity Trio- Hindsight