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Here is contemporary jazz guitarist Ken Navarro like I've never before heard him. On his latest endeavor, The Test Of Time, Navarro is the lone performer, playing all of the parts on one guitar simultaneously. His impressive playing is a powerful and spirited show of depth and innovativeness. His fiery strumming, his use of harmonics, and his clean melodies and chords are all truly something to behold. Whoever said - or has even thought - that smooth jazz is either dead or unimaginative should get a good earful of what Navarro does to always inspire, intrigue, and entice listeners to the genre. It is work like Navarro's on this album that keeps the fire in smooth jazz lit and very bright because of that very imagination and creativity. No, this isn't the smooth jazz we hear everyday on whatever media we have chosen to patronize. It's different and refreshing. It's what contemporary jazz is all about...an all-encompassing umbrella of delightful styles and sounds and directions. A big thanks to Navarro for bringing his contribution under that umbrella. It is because of such an effort that contemporary jazz will continue to bear up well under the test of time.

As a guitar aficionado and lifelong student of the instrument, I found this work most compelling to say the least. Adding to his creative approach here is his unique interpretation of the tunes, which include the late John Lennon's Imagine, Little Martha penned by the late Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers fame, The Police's Message in a Bottle, A Beatles trifecta with Eight Days A Week/Ticket to Ride/Day Tripper, and Santana's Europa, among the 12 timeless tunes. -- Ronald Jackson, Smooth Jazz Ride 

Tracklist:

01. Imagine [5:11]
02. Little Martha [3:54]
03. Just Like a Woman/Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands [6:09]
04. Message In A Bottle [4:37]
05. Eight Days a Week/Ticket to Ride/Day Tripper [8:16]
06. The Days Of Wine And Roses [5:03]
07. Wichita Lineman [4:26]
08. Letter From Home [2:41]
09. Caroline No [2:42]
10. Europa [6:57]
11. Bach BWV (Bonus Track) [3:28]
12. When You Wish Upon A Star (Bonus Track) [3:15]