Guitarist Randy Napoleon soars on this new collection of tunes by the prolific jazz composer Gregg Hill. The core of his ongoing band intact, their freedom to expand boundaries, surprise, or just lock into an unassailable swing is readily available to enjoy.

In 2014, after more than a decade in New York City, and traveling the world with Freddie Cole, Michael Buble and others, he found himself in the middle of the thriving jazz center that Lansing, Michigan had become since bassist Rodney Whitaker’s arrival almost 25 years ago.

Along with his bandmates, pianist Rick Roe, Whitaker, and drummer Quincy Davis, composer Gregg Hill has added an energized compositional voice to the scene, enticing Napoleon, Whitaker, Michael Dease, and others into inspired collaborations.The Door Is Open: The Music of Gregg Hill, Napoleon is free to stretch, bend and expand on Hill’s central themes, and the musical rapport he shares with visiting NY vocalist Aubrey Johnson over his last two albums.

1. The Lost Tune
2. The Door is Open
3. Escape to Cat Island
4. Motel Blues
5. Spa-Teneity
6. April Song
7. The Last Pop Tune
8. Skyline
9. Triple Play

On an album chock full of artistic expression, the new recording opens on the deeply connective The Lost Tune and the warmly embracing, yet vibrantly-hued titular The Door is Open and the we get the broadly emotive Escape to Cat Island, the contextual Motel Blues and the swinging, meter-changing found within Spa-Teneity.

Along next on this album that showcases a most perfect balance between swing and soul, is the lushly harmonic and deliciously melodic April Song which is in turn followed by the musical maturity of his own personal growth within music shown within the heartbeat of The Last Pop Tune and the cleanly-sculptured, and one of my own personal favorite Skyline, the album closing on the original styling found adorning Triple Play.

Other Musicians: Aubrey Johnson (vocals), Rick Roe (piano), Quincy Davis (drums), Rodney Whitaker (bass), Luca Lafave (bass on tracks 1, 4, 5, 7), Anthony Stanco (trumpet), Walter Blanding (saxophone), and Andrew Kim (trombone).

Randy Napoleon - The Door is Open (Official Music Video)