category: instrumental contemporary jazz / pop / rock / blues

Album review:
"A Who's Who list of musicians gathered to support him on this all-instrumental CD. The opening track entitled "Can't Get Enough" immediately displays his slick acoustic steel string guitar work, while guest guitarist Larry Carlton shows some nice electric chops as well. The following track, the Spanish-flavored "Villa De Martin" shows Tommy's dexterity on nylon string guitar. I'm listening to this cut as I'm writing this review and man, this guy has some tasty licks.

"Stay Close To Me" is a soft love song with some nice low-key saxophone accompanyment from Warren Hill. "Reggie's Groove" highlights some nifty blues acoustic guitar with sharp electric fretwork from guest artist Robben Ford. "No More Goodbyes" is along the lines of "Stay Close To Me"; very relaxing indeed. "The Inner Voice" starts off with some weird synthesizer programming but gets on track quickly. Tommy injects some nice harmonics about halfway into the song that really caught my ear.

"Drive Time" is simply georgeous. It's one of those songs that makes you feel so relaxed you almost fail to notice how masterfully the guitar work is presented. "Fields Of Gold" is a cover of Sting's beautiful ballad and is done splendidly. Here, Tommy wisely holds back and lets the sheer beauty of the melody prevail. The final cut, "Song For Nature" is the "busiest" track on the album, starting with some pretty piano work from Randy Goodrum. There is a more prominent saxophone presence from Warren Hill and some background voicing as well." -- Triguy (Spring Hill, Florida)

CD Track Listing

  1. Can't Get Enough (w/Larry Carlton: guiitar solo) (Emmanuel / Goodrum) (4:28)
  2. Villa De Martin (Emmanuel / Goodrum) (4:22)
  3. Midnight Drive * (Emmanuel / Goodrum) (4:09)
  4. Stay Close To Me * (T.Emmanuel) (3:12)
  5. Reggie's Groove (w/Robben Ford: guiitar) (Emmanuel / Bowman) (4:26)
  6. No More Goodbyes * (Emmanuel / Goodrum) (4:05)
  7. The Inner Voice (w/Randy Goodrum: keyboards) (Emmanuel / Goodrum) (4:23)
  8. Drivetime (T.Emmanuel) (3:07)
  9. Fields Of Gold (Sting; arr. T.Emmanuel) (3:38)
10. Song For Nature (w/Kevin Murphy & Janine Maunder: vocals) * (Emmanuel / Hirshfelder) (5:02)

* w/Warren Hill: saxophone

Total timing: 40:55

Label/No: Higher Octave Music 7096

Release date: 1996