Even if Ken Navarro never picked up his guitar again, he would still have a name in contemporary jazz as head of Positive Music, one of the premier independent jazz labels around. Happily, even with the challenges of running a company, producing and everything else, Ken Navarro's own music is as strong as ever. His fifth release, Pride And Joy, is his best yet, and its release secures Ken's place as one of the top performers in modern jazz.

The tune. "It's Cold Out There" is a good example of Ken's musical skills. This fast-paced number is meticulously played by Ken and is nicely accented by Dan Reynolds' keyboards. "Imperfect Things" brings in a hint of blues, and adds some extra-smooth tenor saxophone by Mike Tomaro. Unlike many tunes on this release, "A Friend Of Mine" is immediately recognizable as Ken Navarro. On this gem he switches from nylon-string guitar to electric for some very nice interplay with Reynolds on keys and Tomaro on sax. Other standout tracks include "Give It Away," "Follow My Heart," and the title tune, which I first heard on the air and thought it was Pat Metheny. Fans who know his work know to expect good things from Ken Navarro, but never before has he delivered an album that is so consistent. It starts strong and just gets better.

If I had to pick an album as the release of Summer 1994, it would be Pride And Joy.