Lin
Rountree knows his instrument since a long time. He started to play
trumpet in an early age of 11 years. His first experience in a group
was in the world famous marching band "The Marching 100" at Florida
A&M University. Now he lives in Detroit, the city of Dave McMurray
and Tim Bowman. Lin performed meanwhile with artists like KEM, Dwele,
Peter White, Tim Bowman, George Benson, Conya Doss Deitrick and a lot
more.
His debut album
Groovetree received high acclaims and stayed in the smooth jazz
charts for 15 weeks. His sophomore album Sumthin' Good is
scheduled to be released July 22, 2008. Lin comments his new album: "Sumthin'
Good was a great project to record because we didn't stay too far from
made us successful on Groovetree. Great grooves with great
melodies played by great musicians. On Sumthin' Good you will hear a
progression, almost a maturation of sorts, in our sound and concepts.
You will feel a little more punch on the mid-tempo songs and more soul
on the easy grooves". Most of the songs with the exception of two
pieces are composed or co-written by Lin Rountree which will lighten
those who avoid cover versions. Lin was joined by Dana Davis
(programming, keyboards, synthesizers) and producer Billy Meadows, the
winning team of his previous album.
The album starts
with the title song featuring Lin's professional chops on muted
trumpet. A fashionable smooth jazz song with a terrific groove. Lin
performs the flugelhorn in the style of a trumpet. So perfectly done on the sultry
Let It Ride with waving strings and sweet synth and guitar sounds.
Chillin' On
is featuring Perry Hughes, a guitar legend who has already performed
with Earl Klugh, Alexander Zonjic, Gene Dunlap, Brian Simpson, Bob
James and more. Perry handles his guitar like George Benson, playing
mostly chords. There is a strong interaction between Lin and Perry.
Mighty piano strokes introduce into the Groovalicious, Lin's
magic fascination of trumpet and flugelhorn.
She's Just A
Woman is a contribution of reggae guitarist Carl Robinson who is a
member of Finley Quaye's band. The songs reminds me a little of Ace of
Bass' All That The Wants. The stomping Seldom Sunday
features Bamm Davis. Bamm is a high-talented young keyboardist. You
should sample his solo album Short Stories (2003) on CDBaby,
indicated as jazzy, R&B, and even a gospel kind of flavor. Lin has
outdone himself with a terrific overdub trumpet solo.
On All The Way
Lin's smooth flugelhorn caresses listeners' ears. On Groovetree
Lin surprised the audience with Akire, "infectious urban
flavored jazz". On Sumthin' Good Lin returns with Akire II,
a shuffling jazz supreme. Lin has always his Feet On The Ground.
An uplifting song performed with great prowess.
More of Urban
approach is to hear on There He Goes. Mezzoforte's Garden Party
shines through with five notes which makes the tune even more
stronger. Kiss On Ya Soul is featuring Amp Fiddler. He is the
personified mixture of Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway with a pinch of
P Funk. This is great Motown stuff.
You will Always
combines Lin with T. Herd on piano to a melodious ballade. On the
final Get Away Lin introduce singer Valencia to the audience.
Valencia Waller explains: "I want to have my own style with Beyoncé's
business savvy attitude, India Arie's subject matter and how she
doesn't let the industry change her, and legends like Donny Hathaway
for their level of musicianship."
Live can be
stressful, but it helps you grow. Lin's new album offers so much
professional music for listener's delight and pleasure that it's
really a trumpeter's heaven. Don't miss it.
