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“Superb,” “exquisite” and “delicious” are three words that only begin to describe Greg Chako’s ninth and latest release, Everybody’s Got A Name. Chako’s superb playing, exquisite interpretations and delicious melodies, combined with his impeccable ear for melody, lend an understated elegance to each of the album’s 11 tracks. He guides his listeners through the world of Jazz guitar with tunes that range from standard bop compositions to sultry Bossa Nova, all the while gracing each song with his unique style of playing. There’s something fresh about each of the songs, even if they are such jazz standards as Jobim’s A Felicidade or Porter’s From This Moment On, which closes the album.  Chako’s cool and confident style of playing is most striking on tracks 1,2 and 8. Whether Boppin’ at Berlitz (Track 1) or covering George Benson’s Mimosa (Track 8), he performs with superior ease and grace.

On the title track, Chako showcases his skill as both a composer and an instrumentalist. Not only does he show just what he is made of, but his band mates strut their stuff, too; their flawless musicianship is evident throughout the album, but they excel on this track.  In his liner notes he confesses, “As the title track, I wanted to write something that shows off the group.” With this in mind, Chako wrote a complex, forward, unpredictable, yet clean musical rebuttal to the Jazz professionals and critics who, “overemphasize ‘name’ recognition…” He says,  “…[E]verybody’s got a name, or, everybody who’s got something uniquely valid to say has a right to be taken seriously.”  Mark my words, ladies and gentlemen; this is one fellow we should all take seriously.

The other star of this album is The Lamp is Low. Based on Ravel’s “Pavane pour une Infante defunte,” a Classical piece, Greg Chako and his trio effortlessly execute this dreamy Bossa Nova version. Chako’s smooth guitar playing leaves a velvety aftertaste in the listener’s mouth, and the tender melody lingers long after the song ends. You’ll want to play this one on repeat. You’ll probably want to play a few others over and over again, too. Do yourself a favor and listen to Everybody’s Got A Name. Greg Chako and his band members prove they definitely have something to say, and they’re worth listening to.