Inside MusiCast IMC Album Of The Day –
“Acoustic Trios” by Michael Ruff (2010)
Once more we come to the category of “The Criminally Underrated Musician” ! Singer, songwriter and keyboardist Michael Ruff has been a highly gifted artist on the scene since 1984 and happens to be one of my TOP 3 favourites of all times. Ruff, who resides in Hanalei-Hawaii has achieved a magnificent reputation amongst his fellow musicians as well as liner-note reading experts and westcoast aficionados all over the world. Alas, personal worldwide success in terms of record sales has eluded him. Top stars such as Chaka Khan, David Sanborn, Rickie Lee Jones, Lionel Richie, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Brenda Russell, Roberta Flack, Karla Bonoff, Jose Feliciano, Laura Branigan, James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, The Winans, Al Jarreau, Kal David, Gerald Albright, Michael Paulo, Carl Anderson, Rob Mehl, Amy Hanai`alii Gilliom, Chris Casale and Leilani Rivera Bond added Ruff’s finely-honed skills to their music by hiring him as a touring sideman/musical director and producer over the years. His vital and explosive live performances flow with the greatest ease and ensure a performance of unmatched quality. While Ruff’s musical ideas became much more pronounced during the 80’s, he gave up being a sideman and toured with his own material employing several band line-ups from Scandinavia to the U.S.
Now flash forward to the year is 2010: Michael Ruff called all of his friends in April and surrounded himself with stellar musicians -- Tony Rodarte on drums, Trey Thompson, Magdi (Mike) Latif and Darryl Miyasato on double bass, Sara Thompson on background vocals and Bob Franchescini on tenor sax. A gathering of musicians loaded with the joy of playing. Furthermore Ruff was lucky enough to hire one of the best kept secrets in the world, namely his extremely gifted daughter Olivia, who has shared lead vocals with her dad. Her appearance provides that ‘certain something’ at the center of the album.
“Acoustic Trios” is a mixture of old and new songs and has a definitely different approach when compared to Michael’s prior works. The overall feel is contemporary jazz, swing and r&b with brilliant arrangements and contributions of his ace bandmates, as one can hear on Latif’s “Wasila Blues” or the amusing bossa driven “Listen To Your Woman”. Michael Ruff plays fantastic jazz piano solos in breathtaking up-tempo flourishes as if there were no tomorrow while also providing formidable laid-back grooves. That’s the difference between very good and extraordinary artists!
Olivia Ruff showcases wonderful renditions of "Cry On My Shoulder" (A Ruff composed song that was a hit for multi-platinum selling artist Bonnie Raitt) and the Jackson 5 classic “I’ll Be There” (A Wexler/Davis/West/Gordy & Hutch composition.) Her beautiful voice is no surprise to those who are familiar with Michael’s CD’s “WATERS OF LOVE – LIVE GOSPELS!” and “EVERYTHING” where Olivia’s expressive talent shines. (What a joy it would be if one day she would release her debut.).
Recorded by Ron Pendragon and produced by Michael, “ACOUSTIC TRIOS” is a well-crafted, pure sonic and organic jazz/r&b album without any Pro Tools-adjustments. Michael Ruff exactly knows exactly which side his bread is buttered on.
Do yourself a favor and get it on FAT TUESDAY RECORDS
www.fattuesdayrecords.com/cgi-