Long Island Press Review
BY NICK KREWEN

10/07/2003

As if his Golden Glove-winning ways weren't enough, it turns out that Yankees slugger Bernie Williams knows how to wield an axe as well. An admirable jazz guitarist who is equally adept as a smooth-jazz composer, Williams sizzles through seven of his own compositions on The Journey Within. Flaunting a style that is clean, restrained but seasoned with a slight John McLaughlin sting, Williams plays up his Puerto Rican heritage with salsas, sambas and other Latin rhythms. As proven on "La Salsa En Mi" and "Desvelado," he boasts a fine ear for melody, although there could be a little more fire in the arrangements. A note-for-note reading of Kansas' "Dust in the Wind" and a rather soulful take on Billy Joel's "And So it Goes" round out the package, which features input from noted session musicians Kenny Aronoff, Béla Fleck, David Spinozza, Leland Sklar, David Sancious and T-Bone Wolk to name a few. But make no mistake, Williams holds his own with these major league musicians. Light and airy, the chiefly instrumental The Journey Within offers chops, some fine pickin' and elegant delivery. Who knew?

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