Jack Lee: Into the Night

Jack Lee takes the emotive voice of his nylon electric guitar on an expansive look inward on Into the Night (Truspace Records TSJD9701; 49:27). Lee surrounds the plucky, up-close-and-personal immediacy of his instrument with a dark tapestry of textures on songs like the slightly Brasilian flavored “Nevis,” which pairs his guitar with Bob James’ lovely piano work, and a spacious, exotic read of Astor Piazzola’s “Soledad,” which unfolds from straightforward romantic to minor dark. Lee, who also serves as managing director of his record label, picks collaborators extremely well, evidenced on standout track “You Melt Me,” an intimate, involving duet between Lee’s acoustic guitar and composer Rachel Z’s piano. The piece evolves as a complex conversation-as Lee’s fleet fingerwork dazzles, Rachel hits emotive dynamics. Bob and daughter Hilary James also contribute meditative compositions to Lee’s fine album-although the younger James’ wispy, little girl vocal falls short in appropriateness to his other duet partners here.

Originally Published January 1, 1998