For those unaware, Paul Litteral has been an in-demand trumpeter for decades now. He founded the Uptown Horns with saxophonist Arno Hecht in 1978 and he has since worked with many rock and soul groups (including such names as J. Geils, the Rolling Stones, and Ray Charles) and appeared on over 150 albums.

On Legacy, Hollywood Paul’s first solo record (due out April 24th, 2023), Litteral is very much in the spotlight augmented by talented guests.

For example, the opening number alone, David “Fathead” Newman’s soul/jazz hit Hard Times, sets the standard for what is to come. Litteral’s trumpet playing, even when simply stating the melody, is outstanding and complimented by short solos from baritone saxophonist Sam Morgan, keyboardist Rocky Davis, and altoist Colin Kupka.

Hollywood Paul Litteral’s Legacy is full of variety and spectacular trumpet playing and thus we can only hope that there will be some encores in the near future.

1. Hard Times
2. Accentuate the Positive
3. Lonesome Suzie
4. There Will Never Be Another You
5. I Can’t Make You Love Me
6. Makin’ Whoopie
7. Desperado
8. For Once In My Life
9. Shiver Me Timbers
10. Do It Again
11. The Moon Ain’t Made of Green Cheese

This exquisitely masterful new album opens on the luxurious melodies harbored within the aforementioned Hard Times and then brings us a breathtaking rendition of Johnny Mercer’s Accentuate the Positive (featuring guest singer Lenny Goldsmith), the smoothly impressive Lonesome Suzie (a tribute to the late Lew Soloff), before we get to hear both the swinging There Will Never Be Another You, and the absolutely breathtaking I Can’t Make You Love Me (both of which feature Angela O’Neill on vocals).

Up next is the soulful voice of Anna Orbison on the shimmering Makin’ Whoopie and a rare instrumental rendition of The Eagles’ Desperado and they are in turn backed by a Harry Smallenburg arrangement of For Once In My Life, the dutifully atmospheric Tom Waits-cover Shiver Me Timbers (featuring Beth Andersen on vocals), the recording rounding out on a delightfully funky version of Steely Dan’s Do It Again (inclusive of a stellar guitar solo from Ken Rosser), coming to a close on a notably brief rendition of Billy Cobham’s The Moon Ain’t Made of Green Cheese.

I Can’t Make You Love Me [Official Music Video]

www.plitteral.com