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Chuck Loeb stands out among contemporary guitarists, with his bright sound, crystal-clear octaves, and crisp rhythms. He covers a lot of musical ground onListen, ranging from gently propulsive ballads like "Geraldine" and "Love Is All" to soul grooves like "Silver Star" and the rousing, extroverted play of "High Five" and "Right Down Broadway." You can feel the empathy between Loeb and his guests, including pianists Mitchell Forman andBob James, bassistJohn Patitucci, and saxophonistKim Waters. As well as crafting a series of strong original tunes, Loeb can create surprising covers. He turnsMichael Jackson's "Rock with You" into a moody, touching ballad.--Adam Rains