For those not in the DMAC-know, Doug MacDonald has recorded and released at least ten rewarding albums during the past seven years. But rather than repeat himself or rest on his laurels, the straight ahead jazz guitarist varies the instrumentation and personnel on each project while keeping the musical quality consistently high, giving every recording its own personality and purpose.

For his brand new album Santa Monica Session, MacDonald’s arrangements transform five veteran standards and three of his own originals into Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz.

He is joined on the quartet by Bill Cantos on piano, Fender Rhodes and organ, bassist Hussain Jiffry and drummer-percussionist Kevin Winard. In addition to being masterful musicians, each of the guitarist’s sidemen are versatile and quite adept at playing creative Latin rhythms.

1. Lady Bird
2. Minor Makeup
3. Prisoner Of Love
4. Tele Time
5. Walkin’
6. Pent-Up House
7. DMAC
8. Perdido

This dutifully cultured new recording from the master guitarist, opens on the spirited Lady Bird and then slides effortlessly into the warm embrace of Minor Makeup, the playful Prisoner Of Love, and then we get the veritably glistening Tele Time.

Along next is the flirtatious Walkin’ which is backed seamlessly by the robustly joyful Pent-Up House, the album rounding out on the sheer elegance of the free-flowing DMAC, closing on the a dutiful hipsway that drives Perdido.

Musicians:
Doug MacDonald - guitar
Bill Cantos - organ, piano
Hussain Jiffry - bass
Kevin Winard - drums