Guitarist and Songwriter Joel Del Rosario first trained in Viola. Joel studied, performed, and was second chair in the San Francisco School of the Arts Orchestra. But jazz was his real passion. So he soon chose the guitar as his favorite instrument. Robyn Kazmarcyk and later Elroy Jones were his mentors. He also attended the prestigious Stanford University Jazz camp during high school.

Joel has just released his third album Coast To Coast after his previous albums All Him and Calm In the Storm. All tracks were self written & arranged by Joel with the exception of  God Is Able, written by Don Moen & sung by Ron Kenoly and his choir. All the guitars, bass, keyboards, and sequencing were done by Joel. A genuine self-produced album.

Hey It's the Weekend is like Saturday Night Fever meets Smooth Jazz. While Joel performs some sultry guitar loops, rhythm and strings bring back some disco feeling. Music for your good time.

Coast to Coast continues the positive spirit and mood. Joel describes his themes with quick guitar riffs and his crystal clear guitar sound is enthusing his audience. Seattle is Joel's tribute to the vibrant city in the Pacific Northwest and the state of Washington. This outstanding well-arranged song is the first highlight of the album.

Joel reveals his Christian heritage with the spiritual track God is Able. Latin music and Gospel melts into a mesmerizing uplifting piece. Joel sampled Ron Kenoly's choir but totally re-arranged the song. The mid-tempo Get You in the Groove brings more sunshine in your life.

Joel has an undisputable feeling for great compositions as he illustrates with One Way Street Remix with crisp guitar chords. The romantic Midtown features Joel's friend and sax player Melecio Magdaluyo, who is currently the jazz instructor at the School of the Arts San Francisco, where Joel went to school.  He has played with Pete Escovedo, Bobby Brown, and many artists including Wayne Wallace.

They that Wait is Joel's short excursion into the Blues genre. Another good opportunity to give us a taste of his multi-faceted talent. Listening to Always Faithful I recall with greatest respect that Joel performs all instruments on his album in a impressive perfection. His sense for immaculate melodies is unsurpassable. Final piece of this album is the intoxicating Been Good to Me. Joel follows the melody with different styles always keeping this smooth ballad in balance.

With George-Benson-like fluidity Joel Del Rosario rivals on his new album Coast To Coast every proficient smooth jazz guitarist.

 

Biography

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Album Information

Title: Coast To Coast
Artist: Joel Del Rosario
Year: 2011
Length: 0:39:00
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Label: Independent

Tracks:

01 Hey It's the Weekend [3:25]
02 Coast to Coast [4:23]
03 Seattle [3:49]
04 God is Able [3:56]
05 Get You in the Groove [3:36]
06 One Way Street Remix [4:01]
07 Midtown [2:56]
08 They that Wait [4:21]
09 Always Faithful [3:17]
10 Been Good to Me [5:16]


Further review:

Calm In The Storm