Waking Dream

The revered guitarist, Randy Napoleon, calls in favors from his former students, plenty of guests, and his core band of Rick Roe, Quincy Davis and Rodney Whitaker for another round of songs that include Gregg Hill.

The rich landscape of "Supermoon" opens with warm guitar, crisp drums thanks to Davis and Roe's flowing keys, and "The Speckled Frog" follows with Anthony Stanco's strategic trumpet and Lynne Brown's guiro adding much to the rhythmic delivery.

"Cafe Brasilia" occupies the middle spot and offers a cozy mood via Whitaker's meticulous bass and the radiant guitar tone, while "The Singer" enlists Langston Kitchen's bass and Michael J. Reed's drums that make for a dynamic rhythm section that suits the animated climate.

Arriving near the end, Michael Dease's trombone makes an appearance on "Riverside Blossoms" in a subdued moment that builds into a soulful album highlight, and "Boom Boom" exits with the stunning guitar playing that guides the lively jazz ideas amid Walter Blanning's tenor sax prowess.

The guitar playing from Luke Sittard, Chris Minami, Jocelyn Gould, Ben Turner, and, of course, Napoleon, is top notch, as the players flesh out a timeless, straight ahead jazz record that we won't soon forget.