Hiram

Former Late Night with David Letterman guitarist Hiram Bullock turns in one impressive session on this jazzy ten-track collection. As always, Bullock's guitar alternately sings gently and squalls with an almost rock-like intensity. The big surprise is that Hiram spices up his consummate picking with surprising vocal turns on "What You Won't Do for Love," "We're Gonna Get It Right," "Montevideo," the humorous "Bean Burrito," Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" and the title track. Bullock's impressive guitar chops are well to the fore throughout, even on the vocal numbers with bluesy and jazzy showcases on "Amazonas" and "And the Melody Lingers On (A Night In Tunisia)." With strong Latin percussion and a distinct salsa bent to the background framing Bullock's strong guitar work, this is a delightful album without a weak cut in the batch.

Hiram Law Bullock was an American jazz funk and jazz fusion guitarist. He studied at the University of Miami, where he met guitarists Pat Metheny and Steve Morse, and bass-players Jaco Pastorius and Will Lee. He paid for tuition by performing at nightclubs in Florida before moving to New York. He became best known for playing with Lee on Late Night with David Letterman and working with David Sanborn and Bob James. His work can be heard on Steely Dan's Gaucho (1980), Paul Simon's One Trick Pony (1980), Sting's …Nothing Like the Sun (1987) and Billy Joel's The Stranger (1977). He also worked with Harry Belafonte, Marcus Miller, Carla Bley, Miles Davis, Ruben Rada, and Gil Evans.

Hiram Bullock claimed that he had never done a "jazz" album before this – which is a debatable proposition depending upon how limiting your definition of jazz is. What counts is that he has come up with a beautiful album, drenched in soul-jazz yet touching upon popular music genres as well. Bullock didn't have to change much, utilizing his subdued and rock-tinged guitar styles at will, occasionally bursting out in full rock regalia and making tasty use of electronic additives.

A longtime fixture of the New York City session circuit, guitarist Hiram Bullock proved himself equally adept in spheres spanning from rock & roll to jazz to the avant-garde. He also cut a series of solo LPs exploring funk and fusion, but perhaps remains best remembered as a founding member of the original Late Night with David Letterman house band.