North Light

This diverse set features New England-based guitarist Steven Kirby with four different but overlapping groups, playing everything from raging post bop and soul jazz organ jams to complex originals and a sweet solo guitar version of "When You Wish Upon A Star." Whether sounding a little like Pat Metheny, getting rockish or playing without any distortion to his tone, Kirby excels throughout this stimulating program. Three selections feature hard-driving playing from tenor-saxophonist Chris Potter, Bill Vint (mostly on tenor) helps out on four other numbers and additional soloists include pianist Bruce Barth, trumpeter-flugelhornist Tony D'Aveny and Mark Shilansky (on organ and piano). But no matter who is he playing with, Steven Kirby shows that he is an increasingly significant force on guitar. This is his strongest recording to date.