Trumpeter Chris Botti drops the synthesizers and drum loops of his previous effort, Thousand Kisses Deep, for a more elegant and traditional sound on When I Fall in Love. While Thousand Kisses Deep maximized Botti's penchant for mixing perfect pop songs with his Miles Davis-influenced jazz style, it nonetheless featured many of the electronic and processed sounds predictable on modern smooth jazz releases. By eschewing such "go to" pop-jazz production techniques as drum machines and synthesized strings in favor of the real instruments here, Botti ironically sounds utterly groundbreaking on what is ultimately a straight-ahead orchestral jazz album. While nowhere near as improvisationally adventurous as its predecessors, When I Fall in Love is still a revelation in the tradition of Sketches of Spain, Clifford Brown With Strings, and Wynton Marsalis' Hot House Flowers. Mixing standards and contemporary pop tunes all in a straight-ahead style, Botti gives his minimalist Miles-ian horn sound a chance to breath and be enjoyed on its own.

Sting’s “right and left hand,” Dominic Miller, yet again proves that he is a top-notch guitarist. Produced by the legendary Hugh Padgham (The Police, Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel). Dominic Miller has worked continuously with Sting since they recorded The Soul Cages over 20 years ago! Features Mark King & Mike Lindup (Level 42), Ian Thomas (Eric Clapton), and Jason Rebello (Sting). On tour with Sting in North America through Summer/Fall 2010.

Dominic Miller has been called “a great, serene storyteller” by Peter Ruedi in the Swiss weekly Weltwoche, and Vagabond, the guitarist’s third recording for ECM, might prove his most poetic tale to date, as he creates striking melancholy textures fronting a quartet with Ziv Ravitz on drums, long-time associate Nicolas Fiszman on bass and pianist Jacob Karlzon.

A rare joy to find such class in such an accessible format. Although one or two tracks struggle a little with the Spanish guitar as lead in a major orchestral work, the purity of his playing, combined with the superb production and choice of material make this an exceptional work.