L.A. JAZZ SCENE

Chances are you've already heard Jay Leach. He was Barry Manilow's guitarist in the late ' 1970s and has done studio work that includes Matlock, Jake and the Fatman, Denny's ads, the film Urban Cowboy, Black Angus ads, the film Down ond Out in Beverly Hills, Budweiser ads, and a whole lot more. His calling is as a contemporary Christian musician: Leach's love for his work is reflected in the precision and care with which he performs on the acoustic guitar.

The title track "Beyond Words" expresses the guitarist's inner thoughts through his acoustic instrument. He's supported by electric bassist Abe Laboriel, percussionist Alex Acuna, the synths of Smitty Price and the keyboards of Bill Cantos. "Amazing Grace" is performed with a vocal style on the guitar that captures all the emotional ties that one would expect. 'On Eagle's Wings" finds the acoustic guitar soaring in classical fashion with the support of a string section. Leach picks up the electric guitar and wails on "Walkin' The Walk" with rhythmic colors from Acuna's congas aod Kirk Whalum's tenor sax. The change of pace from classical acoustic guitar to a thundering pumped-up electric beat reminds us that there are many facets to music designed to convey personal thoughts and images.
-Jim Santella