Steve Luciano: Under the Covers

SELF-RELEASED (NO RECORDING DATE)

Guitarist Steve Luciano has the skill to fit right in as a staff musician at Walt Disney World, a member of the Larry Elgart Orchestra, playing for various performing arts centers in Florida and teaching guitar. Under the Covers gives him an opportunity to demonstrate those skills in a more intimate setting. Working with a quartet, Luciano plays a set of ten tunes that hold a special place in his heart. Inspired by a performance of guitarist Ed Cherry at Smalls in New York City, Luciano kicks off this release with Duke Pearson’s “The Chant.” His strong single note attack, a style he learned from his one-time teacher Sal Salvador, is on full display on this tune as well as Wayne Shorter’s “Hammer Head” and Pat Martino’s “On the Stairs.” Saxophonist Dan Jordan shares the front line duties as a sensitive accompanist as well as a strong soloist on these tunes. Jordan sits out on familiar tunes such as “Like Someone in Love,” “Everything I’ve Got,” and “Love You Madly,” giving the trio of pianist Mike Avila, bassist Charlie Siva and drummer Walt Hubbard an opportunity to shine. Influenced by a Bill Evans recording, Luciano closes the CD with a tender solo rendition of “The Bad and the Beautiful.” Don’t let the cover art fool you. The music of Luciano and his band is not smooth like the silk sheets. It is not elegant like the fancy script font. Nor is it romantic like the rose nestled on the guitar. Under the Covers is Luciano’s time to step out of his role as a member of big bands or pit orchestras and pursue his real love — investigating the beauty, grooves, melodies and harmonies in a straight-ahead and well-executed performance of long-time favorites and recent discoveries.

BOTTOM LINE: Under the Covers is a no-nonsense release from guitarist Steve Luciano. No- nonsense because it is a straight-forward, in-the-tradition release from a guitarist who does not rely on effects and tricks to hold your interest. He simply relies on the lessons learned from his one-time teacher Sal Salvador and the support of friends he has played with for over thirty years to deliver a long overdue small group performance.