“Latitudes” CD Review VALLEY SCENE, June 15, 2001

            “Latitudes”, the first CD of Gold Coast, a top-rate Southern California smooth jazz trio, transports the liseners to various magical places, from the Caribbean to North Africa, from Latin America to Manhattan, from the rain forests and jungles to your own world of relaxation.  Gold Coast takes the listener on a relaxing musical journey with their unique blending of guitar, percussion, strings, piano, woodwind and horns.

            The talented musicians behind Gold Coast – award-winning guitarist Jonathan Coleman, percussionist John Pickell and Valley bassist John Ugarte – together with their accomplished guest artists (Grammy nominees Patrice Rushen on keyboards, Gerald Albright on saxes and flute, Ndugu Chancler and Terri Lyne Carrington on drums; Dave Carpenter on bass, Oscar Brashear on trumpet, and the dramatic Mamak Khadem on vocals) have created a CD that can be soothing and meditative in one song, bouncy and danceable in the next, or haunting and exciting in the other.  The rapport and masterful collaboration that Coleman, Pickell and Ugarte have developed over the years, especially in their stint as the house band at The Lighthouse in the South Bay area, is evident here and the CD benefits greatly from that experience.

            The opening track, “Jon Moves,” highlights the rolling guitar rhythms of Jonathan Coleman who was voted “Best Jazz Guitarist” at the 2000 Los Angeles Music Awards.  The dynamic percussion of John Pickell (congas, clave, afuche, guiro and triangle) and Ndugu Chancler’s drums transport the listener to a Caribbean setting.

            “Flotilla”, a playful combination of Gerald Albright’s flute and Coleman’s guitar, brings you to a relaxing, fun place filled with the dreams and joys of life.  This track benefits greatly from the contribution of one of the world’s top jazz piants, Patrice Rushen.

            Albright’s swinging sax allows the listener to travel to Manhattan in “November High” where Rushen’s acoustic piano and cello help create that smokey blue ambience.  The acoustic bass of Dave Carpenter also adds to that exciting New York flavor of this tune.  Overall, this CD offers high quality musicianship coupled with creativity and style.