Nils - 'Pacific Coast Highway'

Nils (pronounced Neels) is a session guitarist that has worked with The Temptations, George Benson, Marcus Johnson, LA Jazz Syndicate, Paul Brown, Garbriela Anders, Rick Braun, Gerald McCauley, Dean James and Norman Connors. He has also written music for TV and film and has won various music awards. On Pacific Coast Highway Nils presents us with both original compositions as well as a few covers that are suitable for burning. The title track kicks off the CD (many people have written about this long stretch of California highway with the same name, but this is Nils own interpretation) with a up tempo, catchy beat and some interesting guitar licks. "Back Pocket" is more of a mid tempo serving of some typical Smooth Jazz tastings. "Sneakin'" is very inner soulful in melody with Nils reaching deep within on some heartfelt guitar playing. "Hey ya" would make a good radio single because it seems to have the components of songs that Smooth Jazz likes to play. "Baja California" is one of my favorite tracks on the disc. Nils is playing acoustic guitar in that west coast airy, bouncy way that I have loved through out the years. A few big name side musicians help out on various tracks on Pacific Coast Highway including Gerald Albright, Steve Reid, Rob Mullins, Abe Laboriel, Alex Al, Steve Ferrone and Gerald McCauley. I wouldn't say that this CD is a must own because it isn't. The music here isn't breaking any new ground nor is it anything that special, I just enjoyed it, pure and simple.
Review by Jeff Charney [contemporaryjazz.com]