Big City

Originally a straightforward jazz guitar quartet, The New West Guitar Group here downsized to a trio and broadened its acoustic-electric sound to incorporate elements of pop, folk, and classical. From the playing perspective, the most impressive track on the group’s fifth album has to be the dazzling “Train Bump,” an original written by Perry Smith that actually nails the rhythmic cadence of a speeding train with spiraling leads soaring over the top. While the band has done covers in the past, there are a handful of easily recognizable pop tunes here that will get attention. The album has wonderfully upbeat orchestral takes on Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and Joni Mitchell’s “All I Want.” The trio turns rootsy for its version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bleecker Street.” More modern with effects-laden electric guitar is a take on The Police’s “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” which no doubt celebrates Andy Summers’ work on the original. While impressive to fellow guitarists, this album is truly a pleasant listen for the rest of us.