East by Midwest

The Baltimore resident and guitarist Charlie Ballantine is joined by Quinn Sternberg and Dan Weiss for these 9 Americana tinted songs that aren't short on grooves.

The shimmering guitar of "Storyteller" opens with much warmth and grace, and "Runaround" follows with Weiss' scrappy drums complementing the meticulous guitar playing.

Landing close to the middle, "Strawberry Fields Forever" is a reflective moment that also benefits from some crunch, too, while "Modern Bohemian" uses Sternberg's playful bass amid the sturdy melodies and timeless rock ideas.

Residing close to the end, "When Will The Blues Leave" is the album's best and moves swiftly with dynamic interaction between the trio, and "Alameda" exits with a dreamy mood that allows for the frisky rhythm section to complement Ballantine's flowing guitar.

Ballantine takes influences from legends like Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard, and his relocation to the East Coast sure has impacted his craft in exciting ways, as evidenced by this incredible body of work.