Natural High

Frank Gambale unplugs for Natural High, pulling out his acoustic guitar for a nine track instrumental CD recoded with pianist Otmaro Ruiz (who has been a member of John McLaughlin's Heart of Things touring band and the Robben Ford/Jimmy Haslip/Vinnie Colaiuta collaborative Jing Chi) and bassist Alain Caron (a founding member of the '80s Canadian fusion group UZEB). No drumming per se, but percussionist Mike Shapiro adds his beats to four cuts. The result is a mainstream jazz record that will appeal to fusion fans since they'll find it with no less energy than a typical Gambale release. Even on acoustic guitars, Gamable delivers the speed and dexterity he has been known for since his first recordings. As reviewer John Kelman notes, "In many ways Natural High is the Gambale album that his fusion fan base needs to hear - demonstrating the firm but sometimes forgotten link between mainstream jazz and one of its many stylistic descendents."