Following in the tradition of his earlier albums POSITIVE ENERGY and RADIAN, Steve Oliver dubs his latest album ILLUMINATE to shine a spotlight on his trademark of vibrant, snappy guitar melodies and sunny wordless vocalese couched in a whirlwind of trippy, dream inspiring atmospheres. Though the uptempo, road trip ready gems drive the journey, his first set of original contemporary jazz instrumentals in six years includes several intimate ballads that bring a soulful depth to the party.
Both live and in the studio, Oliver showcases his one man band mastery throughout, generating his own guitar, bass and keyboard vibes; one of his credits here is “sound design.” But he’s got many top flight friends on board as well, including Jimmy Haslip, Joel Taylor and Nelson Rangell.