Lee Ritenour- RIT (2004)

Personnel include: Lee Ritenour (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, guitar synthesizer, vocoder);Eric Tagg, Bill Champlin (vocals); David FosterDon Grusin, Greg Mathieson, Greg Phillinganes,Richard Tee (keyboards); Michael Boddicker (synthesizer); David Hungate Abraham Laboriel, John Pierce (bass guitar); Jeff Porcaro, Alex Acuna (drums); Harvey Mason (electronic drums, percussion); Paulinho Da Costa, Steve Forman (percussion).
This classic Lee Ritenour album from 1981 was my first ever album by the great guitarist.Produced by the man himself alongside Harvey Mason and David Foster, the album features a long list of guest artistes including people like keyboardists Don Grusin, Richard Tee &Greg Phillinganes, bassists Abraham Laboriel, David Hungate and 'Brothers Johnson' man LouisJohnson, drummers Harvey Mason and Alex Acuna and new vocalist (at the time), Eric Tagg. Ritenour had done a lot of work with producer Quincy Jones in the years running up to this release and the horn arrangements of trumpeter and flugelhorn player Jerry Hey, one of Jones' trademarks, is also added to the mix on this album.This album features a combination of fine guitar work, vocals and production values. Mr. Briefcase is a finely crafted piece of jazz-pop with lyrics that matter. There are many great songs on this record.
It may be out of print and hard to find, but do yourself the favor of acquiring this album in some form.Ritenour's work before and after Rit was decidedly jazzier, which might cause some to say this record is not representative. Whatever. This is a great collection of songs.