Doug Munro: Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0

Veteran jazz guitarist Doug Munro presents an encore performance to his critically acclaimed Big Boss Bossa Nova (Self Published, 2004), recording another monster of an album with Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0. With four originals and a select repertoire of uncommon standards, BBBN2.0 is a more bare bones session than the more highly orchestrated BBBN, done in an intimate trio setting and showcasing Munro at his best.

Featured with the guitarist are bassist Michael Goetz and drummer Jason "J Dog Devlin, who plays on all tracks except "Spain" and "A Day at the Races," where Jason Anderson subs. This trio arrangement works to Munro's favor, pronouncing an incredible performance by the guitarist. Whether plucking the Labella nylon strings on his acoustic guitar using a Carvin amplifier, or playing the Takamine guitar, Munro produces different sounds to enhance the album's decidedly Brazilian-flavored music.

He begins with a spirited rendition of Chick Corea's signature tune "Spain, plucking away with effortless ease and providing intricate rhythmic riffs on Thelonious Monk's "Bemsha Swing. His own "Sticks N' Stones, features a bit of flamenco, with his play on the acoustic guitar.

Goetz and Devlin introduce Sonny Rollins' "Blue Seven without Munro, but the guitarist catches up a bit later with some fast and furious play. Munro's "A Day At The Races sounds hauntingly similar to Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia.".

The standout chart here is clearly Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower, where the guitarist provides sophisticated improvisations, changes in guitar sounds, tempos and an excellent performance with a ten minute-plus musical journey. The album ends with Wayne Shorter's "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum and a pair of originals, completing a marvelous session of bossa-shaded music performed by a master guitarist in one of the finest releases of this New Year.