Kurt Rosenwinkel and OJM
Our Secret World
Word Of Mouth Music
www.wommusic.com
By George W. Harris

Guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel adds to his arsenal of convincing us that he’s the most important post-Metheny guitarist on this ambitious and thought provoking disc. Putting out ambitious material like Heartcore, or with his old working band with saxist Mark Turner, Rosenwinkel has moved on and, well, progressed to other ideas. Here, along with a rhythm team of Abe Rabade-carlos Azevedo/p, Demian Cabaud/b an dmarcos Cavaleiro, he supplements a full orchestra of woodwinds and brass to make a disc on the equivalent of Stan Getz’s Focus; not so much a “guitar backed by a band” as much as the lead instrument being a wholistic part of the band’s equation. Rosenwinkel veers in and out of complex yet enthralling songs like “Use Of Light” and “Zhivago” like a pedestrian making his way through Times Square. Even more intriguing are the drawn out and pensive “Path Of The Heart” and “Dream Of The Old” which give off shadowy reflections of sonic light. A definite leap forward for Rosenwinkel, as well as for his fans.