With a fat, warm tone threading through the jazz cymbal groove with poetic patience, guitarist Nathan Borton celebrates his Midwest musical inspirations - particularly Grant Green & Wes Montgomery - with blues-drenched lines & rhythms on this, his debut recording. Along with jazz masters Xavier Davis on piano, bassist Rodney Whitaker, drummer Keith Hall, and the front line of saxophonist Diego Rivera & bass trombonist Chris Glassman, we don't just hear a tribute to evergreen jazz guitar purism, but rather a complete, satisfying journey through the rich tradition of straight-ahead jazz. From the hard swinging "Milestones," or Tin Pan Alley classics such as "Just One of Those Things," through five originals from Borton and his mentor/producer Randy Napoleon, we discover a young talent with a deep wellspring of ideas and a penchant for surprising musical moments.
1 Each Step (Nathan Borton) 5:48
2 Just One of Those Things (Cole Porter) 5:34
3 The More I See You (Harry Warren and Mack Gordon) 5:24
4 Milestones (Miles Davis) 4:37
5 What Now? (Nathan Borton) 4:37
6 These Are the Things We Throw Away (Randy Napoleon) 5:10
7 Change (Nathan Borton) 6:56
8 Grantstand (Grant Green) 3:51
9 Grant's Groove (Nathan Borton) 4:22
Nathan Borton - Guitar
Xavier Davis - Piano
Rodney Whitaker - Bass
Keith Hall - Drums
Diego Rivera - Tenor Saxophone
Chris Glassman - Bass Trombone
Produced by Randy Napoleon
Recorded by Corey DeRushia at
Troubadour Recording Studios, Lansing, MI
Recorded on June 2-3 2021
Assistant Engineer: Jim Alfredson
Mixed by Nathan Borton, Lansing, MI
Mastered by JJ Golden Mastering, Ventura, CA
Photos by Jessica D. Cowels
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
