Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Rik Emmett: Swing Shift

Rik Emmett: Swing Shift

By John Sharpe
November 1, 1998
View read count

I'm willing to concede that Rik Emmett, who once anchored the rock trio Triumph, is a talented picker with a precise, clean sound. What his Swing Shift lacks is any trace of originality or true inspiration. Emmett and his band, the Open House Collective, breeze through 12 original compositions (now there's an oxymoron) that borrow heavily from just about every major guitarist you've ever heard." Way Cool" reeks of George Benson, "Santa Fe Horizon" is warmed over Metheny and Gladhands sounds like a Chet Atkins hand me down. Swing Shift hits rock bottom with Emmett's hokey, embarrassingly sentimental, vocal track "One Look". Yechh! A feeble entry into the smooth jazz, swing revival sweepstakes. Sorry Rik, but I think this one is destined for the delete bin. 2-4 stars.

Personnel

Rik Emmett

Album information

Title: Swing Shift | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: EMI Music

About Rik Emmett

PREVIOUS / NEXT

My Romance
< Previous

Tokyo '96
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.