Whether it’s country-rock, rock, jazz-rock or perhaps other genres that are framed on a pulse, guitarist Jimmy Herring’s signature style often enlivens any particular project or band that features his versatility and enviable technique. As a performer with Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers and Jazz is Dead, the guitarist now issues his debut solo recording, constructed upon memorable comps and teeming with up-tempo vibes and good karma.

The album is divided into groove-based rock inflected works where the second half of this session lies firmly within the jazz fusion/rock spectrum, abetted by jazz star and saxophonist Greg Osby. The guitarist employs an all-star outfit for his support structure, including bassist Oteil Burbridge and slide guitarist Derek Trucks.

Herring slashes his way through these works with stinging, sustain centric riffs while making his guitar howl and cry along the way. With animated type shuffle grooves, snappy rock beats and Jeff Siper’s crisp polyrhythmic drumming, the various ensembles generate catchy hooks as Herring generally deconstructs a given melody for his soloing jaunts. He imparts soul-drenched lines via his commanding musical presence amid persuasive arrangements that ride atop tuneful keys and driving thematic opuses.

On fusion shaded pieces such as Wayne Shorter’s "Lost" and others, Osby and flutist Kofi Burbridge generate cool unison choruses while the former often reinvents the primary motifs during his soloing spots. Yet Herring maintains that prominent edge on buoyant jazz vamps with his fluent licks and killer riffing. Unlike other guitar great initiated solo ventures, the leader of this date places more importance on the compositional aspects and isn’t bent on rendering an array of technical gymnastics. Moreover, Herring penned the majority of these works that highlight his divergent music vernacular and wide-ranging experiences in the biz. (Strongly recommended.... ).