Mark Lettieri – Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol 2
Mark Lettieri, perhaps best known as a member of uber-talented ensemble Snarky Puppy, is a guitarist, composer, producer and instructor based in Texas who also records and performs in most of the popular music genres as a sought-after session musician with both independent and major-label artists.
What is less well-known is he composes and produces original instrumental music under his own name, as well as fronting the Mark Lettieri Trio with bassist Wes Stephenson (Funky Knuckles) and drummer Jason "JT" Thomas (Snarky Puppy, Forq).
Mark Lettieri joined four-time Grammy Award winner Snarky Puppy in 2008, but in between Snarky studio album duties and world tours the guitarist has found the time to release six solo albums including latest offering, Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol 2.
This new album represents Mark Lettieri’s most consistent work to date; it showcases not just his compositional and playing abilities but the talents of twenty, seriously accomplished contributing players.
The Baritone of the album title is a reference to the type of guitar Mark Lettieri uses as a backbone of his latest work (although not exclusively); similarly its 2019 predecessor Deep: The Baritone Sessions.
For the uninitiated, the Baritone guitar is lower-register six string guitar (the bridge between a traditional six string guitar and a bass); this allows for some unique explorations of the funk genre and serious groove.
Opener 'Red Dwarf,' after a brief electronic intro, plunges into furious hi-tempo funk with the aforementioned Baritone guitar to the fore. The number is ably supported by bassist Daric Bennett (a seriously good player) and fellow Snarky Puppy musician, Justin Stanton, on keys.
Following number 'Magnetar' is a true album highlight; it employs an infectious series of funky guitar grooves on both Baritone and standard six string.
Special word here for the excellent Moog solo provided by Shaun Martin (another Snarky Puppy connection) and the incredibly funky drum parts laid down by Adam Deitch (Lettuce).
'Pulsar' drops the guitar complexity (slightly) but the drum parts of Sput Searight are on another level (the brilliant Searight now sits on the Toto drum stool and has featured on Snarky Puppy albums).
Mark Lettieri provides a more traditional guitar solo in this number, which includes influences from Eddie Van Halen – a source of inspiration that Lettieri has worn on his T-shirts, if not his sleeve.
'Tidal Tail' employs a funk groove reminiscent of Prince; a likeable number, 'Tidal Tail' isn’t as musically or instrumentally challenging as the preceding tracks.
'Voyager One' continues the Prince-like theme with able assistance from drummer Nate Smith (providing the lazy, "just-behind the beat" drum style that's so difficult to pull off) and Bobby Sparks II, who provides some epic keyboard parts.
The grooving and pacey 'Star Catchers' features a stellar Mark Lettieri solo as well as a guest solo spot from the instantly recognisable Steve Lukather.
Phillip Lassiter & the Philthy Hornz give this track the same vibe as both a Cory Wong number and The Fearless Flyers (a side project featuring Wong, the aforementioned Nate Smith, bassist Joe Dart of Vulfpeck and Lettieri). Wes Stephenson also contributes a great bass line to this number.
What is less well-known is he composes and produces original instrumental music under his own name, as well as fronting the Mark Lettieri Trio with bassist Wes Stephenson (Funky Knuckles) and drummer Jason "JT" Thomas (Snarky Puppy, Forq).
Mark Lettieri joined four-time Grammy Award winner Snarky Puppy in 2008, but in between Snarky studio album duties and world tours the guitarist has found the time to release six solo albums including latest offering, Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol 2.
This new album represents Mark Lettieri’s most consistent work to date; it showcases not just his compositional and playing abilities but the talents of twenty, seriously accomplished contributing players.
The Baritone of the album title is a reference to the type of guitar Mark Lettieri uses as a backbone of his latest work (although not exclusively); similarly its 2019 predecessor Deep: The Baritone Sessions.
For the uninitiated, the Baritone guitar is lower-register six string guitar (the bridge between a traditional six string guitar and a bass); this allows for some unique explorations of the funk genre and serious groove.
Opener 'Red Dwarf,' after a brief electronic intro, plunges into furious hi-tempo funk with the aforementioned Baritone guitar to the fore. The number is ably supported by bassist Daric Bennett (a seriously good player) and fellow Snarky Puppy musician, Justin Stanton, on keys.
Following number 'Magnetar' is a true album highlight; it employs an infectious series of funky guitar grooves on both Baritone and standard six string.
Special word here for the excellent Moog solo provided by Shaun Martin (another Snarky Puppy connection) and the incredibly funky drum parts laid down by Adam Deitch (Lettuce).
'Pulsar' drops the guitar complexity (slightly) but the drum parts of Sput Searight are on another level (the brilliant Searight now sits on the Toto drum stool and has featured on Snarky Puppy albums).
Mark Lettieri provides a more traditional guitar solo in this number, which includes influences from Eddie Van Halen – a source of inspiration that Lettieri has worn on his T-shirts, if not his sleeve.
'Tidal Tail' employs a funk groove reminiscent of Prince; a likeable number, 'Tidal Tail' isn’t as musically or instrumentally challenging as the preceding tracks.
'Voyager One' continues the Prince-like theme with able assistance from drummer Nate Smith (providing the lazy, "just-behind the beat" drum style that's so difficult to pull off) and Bobby Sparks II, who provides some epic keyboard parts.
The grooving and pacey 'Star Catchers' features a stellar Mark Lettieri solo as well as a guest solo spot from the instantly recognisable Steve Lukather.
Phillip Lassiter & the Philthy Hornz give this track the same vibe as both a Cory Wong number and The Fearless Flyers (a side project featuring Wong, the aforementioned Nate Smith, bassist Joe Dart of Vulfpeck and Lettieri). Wes Stephenson also contributes a great bass line to this number.
'Blue Straggler,' a more down-tempo number, is a bizarre hybrid of funk and pedal steel (courtesy of Travis Toy) country & western. It shouldn’t work, but in the capable hands of Mark Lettieri and friends it most certainly does.
'Nebulae' is a similarly reserved, but still funky, number – when the main riff kicks in, with inclusion of Frédéric Yonnet’s harmonica (and later solo), there is once again a county & western meets fusion flavour.
'Supernova' has, initially, a laid-back feel but at the two-minute mark it’s lifted by a killer funk riff; the track is given a further lift when Keith Anderson contributes a great sax solo.
Mark Lettieri then ramps it up another level with a key change and Eddie Van Halen-esque solo before returning to the introductory groove. Another album highlight.
Mark Lettieri springs a surprise by finishing the album off with a short, largely acoustic guitar number entitled 'Sublight' that, again, channels his inner Americana (with a shade of Pat Metheny); the track is also somewhat reminiscent of Snuffy Walden’s theme music.
('Sublight' also features a very impressive bass solo – or is it the Deep sound of Baritone guitar?).
A master of his instrument, Mark Lettieri’s solo material is best described as jazz/rock/funk instrumental fusion, but for The Baritone Sessions albums the emphasis is most decidedly on the funk.
Vol 2 is not an easy listen due to the intensity of much of the material but it is highly recommended and, indeed, essential listening if you a lot of funk in your fusion.
It's also a clear contender for the top of many an Instrumental/ Fusion Album of the Year list.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
'Nebulae' is a similarly reserved, but still funky, number – when the main riff kicks in, with inclusion of Frédéric Yonnet’s harmonica (and later solo), there is once again a county & western meets fusion flavour.
'Supernova' has, initially, a laid-back feel but at the two-minute mark it’s lifted by a killer funk riff; the track is given a further lift when Keith Anderson contributes a great sax solo.
Mark Lettieri then ramps it up another level with a key change and Eddie Van Halen-esque solo before returning to the introductory groove. Another album highlight.
Mark Lettieri springs a surprise by finishing the album off with a short, largely acoustic guitar number entitled 'Sublight' that, again, channels his inner Americana (with a shade of Pat Metheny); the track is also somewhat reminiscent of Snuffy Walden’s theme music.
('Sublight' also features a very impressive bass solo – or is it the Deep sound of Baritone guitar?).
A master of his instrument, Mark Lettieri’s solo material is best described as jazz/rock/funk instrumental fusion, but for The Baritone Sessions albums the emphasis is most decidedly on the funk.
Vol 2 is not an easy listen due to the intensity of much of the material but it is highly recommended and, indeed, essential listening if you a lot of funk in your fusion.
It's also a clear contender for the top of many an Instrumental/ Fusion Album of the Year list.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ