[...] Review
Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 09/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Canadian Guitarist's Breakthrough Release Wows Smooth Jazz Community." How's that for an intriguing headline? That guitarist would be Toronto native Dave Sereny, with his debut project TAKE THIS RIDE. This guy's on fire, and your first listen to this stunning collection of tunes will make you a believer. At the age of nine Dave went to a Doobie Brothers concert, then got a guitar as a gift from his older brother. Mr. Sereny went on to study classical guitar at Berklee, collaborate with some of the most influential jazz musicians in New York, and has since played major jazz festivals worldwide and gigged with names like Ritchie Cole, Jose Feliciano, and Mark Whitfield. TAKE THIS RIDE is a brilliant culmination of all the work and dedication Dave has put into his music thus far, and it rocks! He's got some heavy hitters guesting on this album, too. Bob James, Nathan Watts (he's Stevie Wonder's bassist), Wayman Tisdale, and Warren Hill are Smooth Jazz heavyweights featured on TAKE THIS RIDE. Now let's talk about the songs themselves. Strong, vibrant, varied... all incredible, all compelling. The first radio single is the only cover on this release... a lively dance groove-laden treatment of Rick James' "Give It to Me Baby." And the good stuff just keeps coming after that, including the hook-laden "Funkified," the mellow, engaging "This Time," and the lush ballad "Luxury of Love." Dave Sereny's invitation to TAKE THIS RIDE is one you'll want to accept without hesitation! ~SCOTT O'BRIEN"
Can't go wrong
S. G Newman | Gunnison, Colorado, USA | 01/29/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mr. Sereny is right up there with Chuck Loeb, Peter White, Joyce Cooling and Nils, although he's a little more on the "funky" end of things.
Not only is this a great CD, but it's nicely recorded and mixed. You can't go wrong with this one."