SITTING ON THE TOP OF TIME

Former Yardbird and Renaissance co-founder Jim McCarty is a man of deep talent as his late era solo albums can attest. 2009's Sitting On The Top of Time was a bit of a patchwork recording when McCarty's schedule permitted and was compiled over the course of a few years, but has a wonderful continuity due the depth of the stellar musicians backing him. Indeed, this group of Canadian studio pros were well versed with each other and perform together almost like a band that has played together for 20 years. Standouts include flutist Ron Korb, uber bassist George Koller and magical keyboardists Donald Quan and Lou Pamanti. Grounding this group of jazz inflected players is McCarty himself on drums, which adds a welcome counterpoint to their fluid sense of rhythm and melody.

While McCarty's lyrics deal with his growing spirituality and finding his place in the world, the support players spin mystical and at times ethereal backing to these wonderful songs, particularly Korn's moving and emotive flute playing matched with equally moving and emotive piano playing from Quan and Pamanti. Standout tracks include "The Outsider", "Blowing Through the Country Side", "Living From the Inside Out" (which features stirring guitar leads and coda from the one and only Steve Hackett),"For Eloise", "Temporary Life" and the Beatlesque title tack "Sitting On The Top of Time". The trio of Korn led instrumentals are good with" The End of May' being the standout. Lesser musicians would have let these songs slip into an MOR morass, but these stellar musicians make them soar. McCarty has only grown as a vocalist and his sincere delivery really helps to drive the songs home. 4 stars for the man that has that Renaissance vibe always imbeded deep in his soul and in his music.