Adam Nitti: Luminal (2009)

Adam Nitti has always played the bass with a lot of energy. His performance on Liminal, his latest CD release, is no exception. Surrounding himself with a first-rate band, including Mike Whittaker on keyboards, Shane Theriot on guitar, Marcus Finnie on drums and Jeff Coffin on tenor sax, Nitti’s newest effort is outstanding on many levels.

First off is the fact that Nitti not only produced the album, but also composed and arranged all the tunes, which he performs using a combination of 5- and 6-string basses. Careful not to make Liminal “just another bass record,” Adam takes an unselfish approach, giving plenty of room to the other band members to stretch out, treating everyone with equal importance. (Don’t worry, bass enthusiasts – there is still plenty of stellar bass playing, including slapping, tapping and other techniques that can be executed by no one other than Adam Nitti.)

Liminal is cohesive, yet also contains plenty of variety, always keeping the listener engaged. The compositions are strong, the arrangements are well written and the performance is great throughout. Making the CD even more enjoyable is the crystal clear production and overall sound quality.

Adam Nitti, already firmly established in the bass community, is still quite young, which makes one wonder what we can expect from him as his career continues to develop. If Liminal is any indication of how his talents and artistry are unfolding, there’s good news ahead for music lovers in general and bass lovers in particular.

Tracklist:
01- The Renaissance Man/Rebirth [06:45]
02- Distraction [06:40]
03- Liminal [06:26]
04- Redemption Street [09:03]
05- The Seven Year Swing [06:47]
06- The Last Walk Home (Nakita's Song) [01:48]
07- Not Foresaken [06:04]
08- The Good Foot [06:53]
09- II Cuore Del Campione (for Christophe) [07:36]
10- (Hidden Track) Vivere I'Aperitivo [04:35]

Liminal

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Roy Vogt: Simplicity (2003)

Roy Vogt is a professional electric bass and upright bass player who took up the instrument in Texas at 14, inspired by Jack Bruce, Jack Cassidy, Chris Hillman and Noel Redding. His first mentor, Dallas bassist Ed Garcia, turned him onto the playing of Ray Brown and Stanley Clarke and detoured the young bassist into jazz and fusion. Vogt worked in a variety of Rock, Funk and Country bands in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area until he joined the Texas fusion band Aurora.

This led to gigs opening for Larry Coryell and the LA Express and allowed Vogt to meet and learn from Stanley Clarke, Miroslav Vitous, and Max Bennett. The music of the Dixie Dregs, Mark Egan with Pat Metheny, and Jaco Pastorius led Vogt to the University of Miami Jazz program, where he received the first Masters in Electric Bass Performance awarded in the US in 1980.

In 1980, Vogt moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he has worked with the Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts, country guitarist Jerry Reed, and a host of major label Rock, Country, Contemporary Christian, and Pop acts. He was the staff bassist on Channel 4 magazine (WSMV-NBC) from 1983-1987 and has taught at Belmont University since 1983. He is also involved in the new Nashville Bass Institute.

He also transcribed the Bass Extremes book with the duets of Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey. He has also taught many Nashville-based bassists such as Justin Smith, Mark Golden, Alan O.W. Barnes (though Barnes has since relocated to Atlanta), Rich Brinsfield, Matthew Haussler, Chris Dunn and many others.

Simlicity (2003) is smooth, melodic, adventurous, bass-driven Jazz and Jazz Fusion with the right balance of chops and melody featuring special guests Victor Wooten, Dave Weckl, Chester Thompson, Shane Theriot, Jeff Coffin, Stan Lassiter, T Lavitz and others.

Tracklist

1. Open Spaces

2. Rasta Salad

3. Burnin'

4. Collette (Dee Dee's Tune)

5. NYC

6. Castaneda

7. Where Were You?

8. Curtis

9. Carlos and el Gato

10. Flyte

11. Labyrinth
12. Victorious
Simplicity
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