By: S. Hubbell
dam has world class chops and is out to prove it with this sophomore release, backed by such heavyweight hitters as Dave Weckl (Chick Corea, John Patitucci), Kirk Covington (Tribal Tech), and fellow bassist Victor Wooten (no introduction needed). There is little room for error. This is a very clean sounding recording, hats off to the recording crew and to Adam who produced and mixed everything. Nitti's lean, hi-fi tone slices through the mix without overwhelming the other instruments. Lovers of phatt bass tones beware, as there aren't any on this CD. Highlights include "Skitzo" that lives up to it's name by having no less than three different personalities: fiery fusion lines, greasy funk, and smooth modern jazz that Adam glides through with ease. "Yin and Yang" is a funky duet with Vic that shows Nitti is content to hold down the bottom while Wooten takes the melody. It also shows that Adam is confident in his playing ability by trading "fours" with da man. (Wooten on the left, Nitti on the right.) On Steve Miller's "Fly Like An Eagle", Nitti nails "that Marcus Miller sound" and style. Rumor has it that it was played on a 75' J-Bass. Go figure. The three solo pieces Vic-Dom Part 1 and 2 and Fritter Boy are tapping showcases reminiscent of Wooten (hence the name), with shades of Bromberg and Hamm. Altough Adam has great technique, at an average playing time of two and a half minutes, that much tapping gets ear fatiguing. The rest of the disk is full of active, syncopated finger-funk, tasty solos, and even a latin number. "Cheeky" closes the disk with great basslines and furious solos and would sound right at home on a Stu Hamm or Randy Coven album. Strong songwriting and impressive bassmanship equal a feast for the ears that is a joy to listen to again and again. Two thumbs up.
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