Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, Jean-Luc Ponty: Topanga

In this all-acoustic outing, these three brilliant musicians weave an arresting tapestry of musical ideas from a skein of seemingly infinite colors. For his own evocative composition, Stanley Clarke's arco bass technique is used to great effect. Di Meola's penchant for dazzlingly impossible runs is deftly restrained, creating a pleasantly lyrical interplay between him and Clarke, as well as some intuitively inventive guitar work over his own overdubbed accompaniment. When Ponty's violin enters the mix, his naturally lyrical style meshes seamlessly with the guitarist's subtle chords and Clarke's complementary basslines. The string format keeps this soft and gentle tune appropriately sensitive without introducing a trace of syrupy sappiness. A pleasant musical excursion using an oft-neglected jazz format in an inviting and creative way.