Pre-Owned Higher Altitude

0089778951721. Pre-Owned: Good condition. CD. With Kilauea, Birds of a Feather, and Pocket Change, Brainchild Records cornered the market on that amazingly smooth and melodic West Coast sound in the mid-'90s, played by a mix of some of the best veterans and up-and-comers in the pop instrumental world. David Patt's fruitful combination of acoustic suavity and electric energy has never come across this effortlessly before, and, as he notes in his thank yous, collaborating with keyboardist/composer Peggy Duquesnel is a stroke of radio-ready genius. She helps Patt explore both his nostalgic, romantic side ("The Right One"), as well as the rock & roll warrior lurking deep in his soul ("Proper Attitude," "Turn on the Light"). Patt finds the grit in his electric strings in "Walk in the Park," which, like most of the best cuts here, features saxman Marc Russo blowing at his full Yellowjackets capabilities. (he was the groups former saxophonist). Fluffier but no less engaging are "Crusin' Catalina" and the easygoing "Tropical Lover." Also on hand to lend support here and there are Rippingtons Kim Stone, Tony Morales, and Steve Reid, and the wistful flute of Peter Gordon. Though Patt stands out every time he plies his supple fingers, his greatest gift is knowing how to share the spotlight with the highly capable musical magicians in his pocket. ~ Jonathan Widran, Rovi