Reviews of new releases,
both from our area and around the world

Dwight Sills Four Stars * * * *

That's what I thought after listening to Dwight Sills new cd, "Easy". After a brief time away from his solo career(to play with such notables as Anita Baker, Bobby Lyle, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, Rick Braun, and Bette Midler)Dwight is back on the block with a new release on CityLightsMusic, a top ten single "Dock of the Bay", and a second single "Desert Skies" steadily moving up the charts.

Enlisting the help of Co-Producer's Russ Ferrante' (of the Yellowjackets) and Hal Sacks (of Kirk Whalum fame), "Easy" is a great blend of mature writing, playing, and production. It walks the fine line of musical integrity and marketability without offending either camps and, in my opinion, brings some credibility back to contemporary jazz music that has been lacking the last few years.

Dwight is joined in part on the cd by fellow musicians Russ Ferrante', Jimmy Haslip, Kirk Whalum, Dallas' Sean McCurley, and Larry Kempel, just to name a few. Below is a blow-by-blow account of my first couple of listens. I've tried to give in this review a guidemap of what you'll hear, focusing on aspects of each song that jump out and grab me. Hopefully, it will be more informative than scholarly. For most of you, Dwight is a known commodity, residing and playing in Houston for several years and playing with Houston musicians Kirk Whalum, Paul English, Herman Matthews, Hal Robinson, Bubba Thomas, Dave Catney, Warren Sneed, New Toys, The Franchise, and several other jazz/fusion groups and recording projects, so I know you'll run right out and buy the disc anyway, but for folks that don't know Dwight or his musicianship, read away and maybe you too can find "Easy" in your cd collection this weekend:)

Reviewed (sort of) by Mike Morrison

Desert Skies:

Americana and Big Sky Western sounds...Love the acoustic guitars! Doubled and octave chorus section puts the tune over the top. This is a part of Dwight's playing/writing that's never been on tape before on his previous releases. So far(after 2 complete listens) it's the one that sounds and feels the most familiar to me.

Dreamin':

Complex intro with clarinet and flute adding almost a classical element to the song. Russ's voicings rule! Dwight is featured on nylon string guitar on this one and shows his dexterity and command of the instrument. I can't wait to hear this one live! Nice changes and very melodic playing. Beautiful tune. Russ plays great piano at end of tune.

Nightfall:

Sounds like the "marcus miller" bass samples on some of it. Eric Daniels did a good job programming, playing, and arranging this one as a vehicle for Dwight's unique stlye. This is what commercial jazz should sound like. Radio should be very good to this one. Very smooth and very tight. Cool chops, too. The Ibanez Artist guitar sounds great.

D's groove:

I need an air freshener! Very tight! Love the B3. Like that producer's Hal Sacks and Sills didn't mix the horns with lots of verb---kind of a Rev. Al sound. I've always digged Dwight's vibrato--- great control of it. This is the kind of tune where Dwight is the most comfortable and the most relaxed. He swings and solo's thru this one effortlessly. It shows on this tune for sure. Great fourths lick at the end.

This Time Around:

Clean and uncluttered. Like all the space Eric left for the guitar. Marimba's are a little hot for me, but that's me. Radio compressors will take care of that, though. Most of them are set infinity:1!!! (the "no dynamics" setting). Another great vehicle for Dwight to use all of his arsenal of musical tools. Great bridge changes. Once again, nice tune and playing.

Dock of the Bay:

Respectful of the original recording, but quickly moves to a very cool arrangement by Sills and Ferrante. I love drums mixed like this ala the "Memphis Stax Sound". All the guitars fit really well, and I really like the acoustic guitars again. Russ oughta put out a B3 trio record. He really understands the instrument. Nice interpretation of the tune by Sills on his Ibanez hollowbody. Dig everything at the end of the tune, cool changes, very expressive soloing, a nice break from the typical cover of the song. It will be great to hear it live! Thanks to the Memphis Horns(Kirk Whalum).

Silver Moon:

Guitar tone sounds great. The real flutes(no samples here) really set the tune apart from everything else on the radio. Great place for Jimmy Haslip to play, too. Cool note choices at the end of the tune. Just another part of Dwight's playing that's never been captured on tape. I'll be suprised if they let this one on the radio---you can't think of little sheep and fresh little candies(check the National Lampoon record from the 70's for that joke)! lol.

Waiting for U:

Cool drum loops and sounds. Bill Cantos is (programmer/coproducer) a talented guy and was a great choice for arranging this tune. It's a shame that this one's too funky for the radio. Ain't nuttin but a muffin! This sounds like Dwight at his best for sure, though. Too funky...

Easy:

I like the volume swell stuff a lot! It gives Dwight's guitar almost a synth-like quality with long delays and lush reverb treatment. This one really grows on you. Interesting changes and lots of interweaving guitar parts...won't hear this one on the radio either. Too bad.

Caribbean Soul:

Would love to see Dwight and Kirk Whalum do this one live! Funky reggae feel. Wish Bill had used real bass during 1st solo---personal preference. Great chops from Dwight with a big overdriven guitar sound. Lots of heart. Gritty. Great line back into the main groove! Another great fourths line at the end! Can you say "Guitar Sax Tour 2000"? Perfect vehicle for Dwight and Kirk.

Great CD. Of course, I didn't expect for it to suck or anything!!! The production is top notch, the mixes are perfect except for the marimbas where I mentioned before(my opinion), guitar sounds very good---smooth, glassy but with a nice bottom end, not harsh but not so dark it won't cut thru the mix, the tunes are interesting and have enough stuff going on that everyone will enjoy them, the musicians used all added a lot without averting attention from the tune. Unless you are only into straight ahead, you'll love this cd. It covers tons of ground musically which is a real change from most of the releases out today. It would've been easy, pardon the pun, to put out another "copy another famous guitarist" cd, but thankfully CityLightsMusic let Dwight have plenty of rope to fashion something beautiful with legs and substance that all of us can enjoy and be proud of; plus, you know you'll be supporting another Houston alumni that has gone on up the food chain and is swimming with bigger fish. Congrats Dwight, nice joint.

Mike Morrison
IndependentsMusic.com