Adam Nitti - 2001 "Evidence"

Adam Nitti's 3rd album release. High energy instrumental music. Futuristic fusion of jazz, funk, and rock with lots of variety. Appealing to both music listeners and players, alike. Features Dave Weckl (drums), Jeff Sipe (drums), Tom Knight (drums), Forrest Robinson (drums), Dwayne Holloway (drums), Shane Theriot (guitars), Bill Hart (guitars), Steve Cunningham (guitars), J Nitti (programming), DeSean (vocals), Colette C.C. Coward (keys), Randy Hoexter (keys), Ike Stubblefield (Hammond B3), Phil Davis (keys).

Adam Nitti's third solo cd Evidence, has him showing a continual growth as a composer, this cd has some excellent fusion material from the start to finish. If you are not aware of who Adam Nitti is, he is a phenomenally gifted bassist, that has adapted his style from some other well known heavy hitters on the bass, here are some he mentions at his website: John Patitucci, Marcus Miller, Dominique di Piazza, John McLaughlin, Jaco Pastorius, Gary Willis, Me'Shell Ndegéocello, Oteil Burbridge, Les Claypool. I would certainly add to this list the likes of Alain Caron, & Stu Hamm, purely for their virtuosity on the bass. Adam surely is one of the exceptionally gifted players that I have heard, and he also has a knack for writing the type of songs that showcase his abilities at their utmost potential, without sounding like a bass players cd. Not one to dwell in the predictability of funk, or the garden varieties of bass dominated fusion cliches, Nitti takes full advantage of the impressive collective of talent he enlists to join him for Evidence. His songs are very catchy, yet have a constant complexity that goes beyond fusion, the word progressive would have to be considered a large element to his overall sound. There are a couple of songs that are straight ahead funk jams, with some great soloing by guitarist Theriot, and it's back to the hard fusion again! The proficiency of Nitti's bass skills are outstanding, he flows through the many demanding styles and meter changes with great command of his instrument, when he does take a solo spot, his tone and flawless technique really impress. To conclude, this cd is very enjoyable to most anyone that likes great music of any kind, especially hard fusion, there are no loosely constructed, improv tunes, or overly played solo spots. Also I wanted to make a special mention of the recording quality of this cd, hearing this at mid volumes on my system really brought me to full attention, crisp, and punchy, with every instrument recorded evenly and at the optimum level, I could only wish all my music was this well produced and engineered.

Never heard of the guy, but accidentally was pointed to him on one of the sites and boy what a find. You could hear elements of Weather Report at times, Uzeb at other times, both extremely welcome, although certainly with his own music. His bass playing is superb, but so are other people, most notably the drummer (super drummer, I should add). If you like jazz rock or fusion - this CD will not leave you with buyers' remorse, quite the contrary. Hopefully Adam will continue in the same direction, since there are so few these days that truly address this genre of music.

In searching for new unique music a few years ago I discovered Adam Nitti at an MP3 site. He is a bass player of incredible ability but he adds to that the ability to compose music that is so creative, so high energy (great for workouts) without the discordance of fusion (or at least it's tastefully done) and so beautiful and captivating it makes the heart swell. He is the Beethoven of jazz/fusion and I love Beethoven. His first CD Liquid Blue isn't listed here but is definitely a must have. My only disappoints are that I haven't found anyone like him since and he hasn't come out with a new cd in quite a while.

https://jazz-rock-fusion-guitar.blogspot.com/search?q=Adam+Nitti

Track listing:

01     Millenium     5:45
02     Nine-Eleven     5:57
03     Truth     5:39
04     Evidence     5:40
05     Oasis     7:24
06     The Divine Wind     6:31
07     Puddin'     5:32
08     On Wings Like Eagles     6:15
09     Swamp Diddy     6:10
10     Broken, Pt. 1     2:53
11     Broken, Pt. 2     8:14

Personnel:

Adam Nitti - Basses
Shane Theriot - Guitar-1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9
Jeff Snipe - Apt Q258 - Drums-5,7,9
Dave Weckl - Drums-2,6
Ike Stubblefield - Hammond B-3-7,8
Bill Hart - Guitar-11
Randy Hoexter - Keyboards-6,9
Dwayne Holliday - Drums-3,4
Tom Knight - Drums-1
Forrest Robinson - Drums-11
Sam Skelton - Sax, flute-2,5,6,
Phil Davis - Keyboards-4,7
Colette Coward - Piano-11
Desean - Vocals-3
Steve Cunningham - Lap Steel Guitar-3

Adam Nitti - 1998 "Balance"

Adam Nitti\'s 2nd release, featuring performances from Dave Weckl, Victor Wooten, Jimmy Herring, Shane Theriot, and many others. High energy instrumental music with an emphasis on musicianship. A diverse collection fusing together jazz, rock, and fusion.

Now here is a fusion feast for the ears - bassist Adam Nitti's second solo release, entitled Balance. Not only do you get Nitti's world class bass work, incuding three amazing solo tracks ("Vic-Dom, Part 1", "Fritter Boy", "Vic-Dom, Part 1"), but you get additional contributions by some outstanding guitarists and other musicians. Bill Hart contributes a slinky guitar solo to the Steve Miller cover "Fly Like An Eagle", as well as adds guitar work to two other tracks. Guitarist Shane Theriot guests on two tracks ("B Squared", "Cheeky"), while guitarist Jimmy Herring adds his six-string edge to the title track. Sax man Sam Skelton is also a standout here - he's featured on seven tracks. Nitti, of course, is center stage on Balance, and with good reason - his active, syncopated finger-funk and tasty solos will keep fretlovers enthralled. Instrumental Guitar (Electric/Fusion),

Adam Nitti has emerged as one of the cutting edge bassists and composers in the world of instrumental jazz and rock. Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, Adam currently has 3 CD\'s released on his own Renaissance Man Records label. Adam has toured with the Dave Weckl band, Jeff Coffin Mu\'tet, the Justice League, and Angie Aparo, and has also performed with such legendary jazz artists as Scott Henderson, Peter Erskine, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, Kirk Covington, Wayne Krantz, and many others. He is currently touring with Steven Curtis Chapman, a 4 time Grammy winning artist based .

Folks...if you don't know who this talented individual is yet...WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!!!! As bass players go, Stu, Billy, Jonas all rock. Mike Manring, Vic and Adam have brought two hands to the fretboard. Jaco, Gary Willis, Bunny, and Jeff Berlin are jazz monsters. There, of course, are many more, but this is a review of Adams first solo offering. Check out the video footage of some of this albums titles on U-tube and you'll understand. He has surrounded himself with very talented players, Dave Weckl, Kirk Covington, and Tom Knight on drums, Jimmy Herring and Shane TheRiot and Bill Hart on guitar. Vic joins him on bass, Randy Hoexter on keys as well as Sam Skelton on sax. Adam starts with a funky rock/fusion number that shows off some outstanding solo techniques. Next up is Kingpin, a jazzy piece with smooth melody and quick fingers. Yin & Yang, of course, features Vic Wooten and is a must listen. Cry for Peace slows things down and Sam's sax is sweet as is the six string Adam plays. Fly like an Eagle is a plucky 4 string version of Steve Miller's hit featuring Bill Hart and Sam. Vic-Dom 1&2 and Fritter Boy are bass solo pieces. Balance, the title track, features one of the most fascinating fusion guitarists, Jimmy Herring. AWESOME!!! Stephanie's Song is a straight ahead jazz piece, slick, smooth and easy. Nice keys solo. B Squared is a funky bayou fusion piece featuring Shane TheRiot. No one plays like Shane. He also is featured on Cheeky another funky, rockin' number with a lot of techniques, as the tune changes to, sort of, become the summary of Adam's talents. Faith is a nice melodic number that reminds one of The Rippingtons. Be astounded! Tell all your friends! By edzona.

I would say this album holds great things for everybody that takes their music seriously. This is Adam Nitti's first solo release and he's released two others since but I still think that this one is his best. You've got killer top shelf drumming throughout with Dennis Chambers being the most notable of them. This album jams right from the start of the first track schizo which is probably my personal favorite along with track 3 Yin Yang which has Victor Wooten guesting on bass and laying down a sick solo. This album also has three bass solo pieces Fritter Boy & vic doom part 1 & part 2. These solo pieces are mostly two hand tapping style songs with lots of energy and good direction. The guitar playing on here is in the progressive style but with some wah wah funk strumming thrown in for good measure. Nitti's playing on the rest of the songs is tight and groove oriented more in a Jaco Rocco sixteenth note style with solos from his six string and ripping slap grooves. This album is high octane fusion with a progressive rock overtone and it rocks out from start to finish, Buy it! By Jonathan Guarriello.

I've collected a lot of music over the past 20t years... and I can count on one hand the number of times I've had a recording just floor me! Balance from Adam Nitti is one such recording! I can actually remember the first time I heard this Cd. This Cd runs the gamut in terms of styles that are performed. Very few cds exist where every tune on the recording is great. Balance is it! When an artist can blend their technical talent with their tune writing ability and be able to keep the listeners attention from start to finish... what you have is a rare gem of a recording... Balance is it! Thank you Adam for this outstanding recording! By M Lucas.   

Track listing:

01 Skitzo 5:57
02 Kingpin 6:11
03 Yin & Yang 4:43
04 Cry For Peace 5:58
05 Fly Like An Eagle 6:13
06 Vic-Dom, Part 1 (Bass Solo) 2:26
07 Balance 5:45
08 Stephanie's Song 4:55
09 Vic-Dom, Part 2 (Bass Solo) 2:20
10 B Squared  4:37
11 Faith 6:00
12 Fritter Boy (Bass Solo) 3:37
13 Cheeky 3:19

Personnel:

Adam Nitti - 5 & 6 String Bass, Keyboards, 6 String Fretless Bass, $ String Bass
Victor Wooten - Bass and Bass Solo on "Yin & Yang"
Bill Hart - Guitar
Jimmy Herring - Guitar
Shane Theriot - Guitar
Tom Knight - Drums
Sam Skelton - Sax
Randy Hoexter - Keyboard Solo
Dave Weckl - Drums
Kirk Covington - Drums 

Shane Theriot - 2009 "Dirty Power"

Dirty Power is the third studio album by guitarist Shane Theriot. It was released in 2009.

Shane Theriot (born in Thibodaux, Louisiana) is an American guitarist and composer. He has performed with many influential musicians, authored guitar instruction books and DVDs, and composed and produced music for MTV and ESPN, among others. He is the guitarist and musical director for Live From Daryl's House, featuring Daryl Hall, on the Palladia Network and VH1. Theriot (pronounced "terry-o") divides his time between New Orleans and the New York City area.

Theriot was first featured on Mark Varney's Guitar on the Edge CD series with an original composition, "In Between." In 1996 he began playing with The Neville Brothers, with whom he performed until 2003, touring nationally and internationally. During this time he also began working as a session guitarist. Theriot has release three albums as a leader since 2000: Dirty Power (2009), The Grease Factor (2003), and Highway 90 (2000).
Theriot's credits include performances or tours with Hall and Oates; LeAnn Rimes; Willie Nelson (makes an uncredited appearance in the movie The Dukes of Hazzard with Willie Nelson in band scene); Idris Muhammad; Blue Floyd; Dr. John; Marc Broussard; Larry Carlton; Sam Moore of Sam and Dave; Madeleine Peyroux; Aaron Neville; Slim Whitman; The Syn (with Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes); and Little Feat.
In the studio, Theriot has added his guitar to sessions by Beyonce; Jewel; Boz Scaggs; Harry Connick Jr.; John Waite; Leni Stern; Maria Muldaur; Dr. John; Marc Broussard; Sam Moore of Sam and Dave; Aaron Neville; and Steve Earle.

Shane's 3rd solo record and last one to date. The most- groove heavy collection of 10 original tunes dripping with New Orleans injected-funk and burning guitar.
Features Jim Keltner, Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters), Richie Hayward (Little Feat), Johnny Vidacovich (drums), Sonny Landreth on slide, Johnny Neel, Hutch Hutchinson, Adam Nitti on bass and members of Preservation Hall and Dirty Dozen Brass Band on horns.

Guitarist Shane Theriot renders a medley of craftily placed spikes and high voltage maneuvers on his third solo endeavor, featuring several legendary drummers amid a who's who of superfine Louisiana musicians and others of note. Theriot's artistry has spread across multiple genres, due to a culmination of recordings and performances with Little Feat, Boz Scaggs, Aaron Neville and Willie Nelson, among an extensive list of jazz-rock, folk and funk undertakings. Armed with superior chops and an affinity for penning memorable compositions, Theriot is a shrewd operator who conveys restraint and a soft touch to contrast his rippling and slashing solo jaunts.

The program boasts a potpourri of snappy, in-the-pocket works, dappled with funk, rock and a flavorful New Orleans edge. With alternating personnel throughout these ten originals, Theriot grinds out a noticeable groove quotient, abetted by David Torkanowsky's soul-drenched Hammond B-3 phrasings, and either Adam Nitti or "Hutch" Hutchinson's deep, bass lines. Highlighted by memorably melodic primary themes, Theriot transmits nuance and a killer dynamic, yet drives it all home with grinding riffs and fluent single note runs.

"Bring It" features trombonist "Big Sam" Williams' punchy phrasings atop a super-funk based motif, nicely accented by drummer Doug Belot's ride-cymbal bell hits. Thoughts of James Brown and vintage Brecker Brothers come to mind, as Theriot ups the ante by whipping matters into submission via his recoiling like, phraseology.

"Memphis," features ace Allman Brothers Band keyboardist Johnny Neel, who also plays harmonica to assist with a sprightly vibe firmed up by Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward's pumping backbeat. On "Kirk's Little Backpack," influential New Orleans jazz drummer Johnny Vidacovich morphs a buoyant shuffle pulse into a brisk rocker, offset by trumpeter Mark Braud's warm choruses and Theriot's sleek, dark-toned voicings.

Theriot's electrifying presentation is a study in dielectric strength, where sparks become discharged on a recurrent basis. More importantly, the guitarist merges a supercharged musical plane with unforgettable hooks and a nicely in-your-face game-plan. It is an irrefutably persuasive agenda.

Track listing:

01    Old Men (5:21)
02    Dirty Power (3:39)
03    Four On the Floor (3:50)
04    Bring It (3:46)
05    Mr. Ed (3:54)
06    Buckshot (4:36)
07    Memphis (4:20)
08    Buckshot (Reprise) (0:49)
09    The Pygmy Love Dance (4:21)
10    Kirk's Little Backpack (3:04)

Personnel:

    Shane Theriot - bass, guitar, baritone guitar, composer, mixing, producer
    Jim Keltner - drums
    Hutch Hutchinson - bass
    Richie Hayward - drums
    Johnny Neel - keys
    Sonny Landreth - guitar
    Zigaboo Modeliste - drums
    Doug Belote - drums
    Adam Nitti - bass
    Johnny Vidacovich - drums
    Kirk Joseph - sousaphone
    Mark Braud - trumpet
    Big Sam Williams - trombone
    Roderick Paulin - sax

Shane Theriot - 2003 "The Grease Factor"

The Grease Factor is the second studio album by guitarist Shane Theriot. It was released in 2003.

A heavy hitting dose of modern rock/jazz compositions mixed with equal doses of New Orleans funk. One of Shane’s more “guitar intensive” records that is a favorite among musicians and groove-lovers alike. Featuring some of the funkiest musicians on the planet- including Victor Wooten, Russell Batiste (The Funky Meters), Jeff Sipe (Apt Q-258), Johnny Vidacovich, Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck), Kirk Joseph (Dirty Dozen), Johnny Neel (Gov’t Mule) and others…

Here we have the second solo album from New Orleans native Shane Theriot pronounced "Terry O" for those of you who don't know. This album is a collection of eleven original compositions written by guitarist Theriot. If I had to label the music on "Grease Factor" I'd call it funk/rock fusion with strong connections to the second line New Orleans street beat grooves of his native city "The Big Easy".

Shane employés some high profile musicians on this collection of funky ditties, 6 string monster Adam Nitti shows how well he can lay back & groove with the drummer on one of my personal favorite tunes track 6 "Mr Longhair" a medium tempo funk workout that features a hip multi layered harmonized guitar melody set against some burbling greasy B3 organ played by Johnny Neel.

Track 4 "Shrimp Boots" brings the New Orleans vibe with founding member of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Tuba & Sousaphone master Kirk Joseph laying down the bass & boy does he lay it down! Shane employes several masters of New Orleans style funk drumming such as Russell Batiste, David Northup, Jeff Sipe, Doug Belote. "Shrimp Boots" features the legendary John Vidacovich of the band "Astral Project" covers the beat as well as a short but sweet drum solo.

Track 7 "The Apartment" features living bass god Victor Wooten playing fretless 5 string. The best way for me to describe this tune would be mellow intensity if that makes any sense because the groove is a driving fusion groove with Shane dialing in a more processed wet tone sort of like a cross between Pat Metheny's tone with his Metheny Group & Steve Morse with his Dixie Dreggs. Wooten lays down melodic fretless grooves that support the song they don't dominate it, I think it's nice to hear Wooten on fretless rather than his usual four string fretted bass. Shane takes a ripping solo over Wooten's delft accompaniment.

Track 10 "Zydefaux" is pure Zydeco with accordion & the type of driving up tempo groove that makes Zydeco music so much fun to dance too.

Well there you have it, I hope you've found my review informative & I highly recommend this or Theriot's other two albums "Hywy 90" & "Dirty Power". In my opinion this music is just all around awesome! If you appreciate top self musicianship especially in the guitar department & funky bass & drums with that Big Easy grease factor than pick this up now!

The obvious points of reference when discussing Shane Theriot are Brian Stoltz and June Yamagishi. Like Stoltz and Yamagishi, Theriot is a hot shot New Orleans funk guitarist who plays with various bands associated with people named Neville. While Stoltz and Yamagishi worship at the alter of Hendrix, though, Theriot seems to have more of a thing for John Scofield, and his music has more of a jazz-rock fusion influence. Occasionally, it even sounds almost metal, like the work Shawn Lane did with bass phenom Jonas Hellborg. However, also like Lane and Hellborg, Theriot never loses sight of the fusion-funk groove, so he never goes into full metal mode. If find this album a bit more satisfying than Highway 90, mostly because there are a few moments on Highway 90 where Theriot's fusion gets a bit too smooth for my taste, but The Grease Factor is, well, a bit greasier. That suits me just fine.

Track listing:

Little Hat (4:50)
Swish (5:12)
Zodiac (4:08)
Shrimp Boots (3:40)
Dublin (5:43)
Mr. Longhair (5:57)
The Apartment (5:45)
Slow (5:42)
Woody (5:17)
Zydefaux (3:52)
Dear Ellen (1:15)

Personnel:

Shane Theriot - composer, producer, electric/acoustic guitars, programming
Johnny Vidacovich - drums
Russell Batiste - drums
Victor Wooten - bass
Adam Nitti- bass
Doug Belote- drums
David Northrup- drums
Johnny Neel - Hammond B-3, keys
Kiyoshi Tamai - voice
Steve Conn - accordion