Jazz-funk: “Don’t Knock My Love”

In O Grande Amor (1986), Gene Bertoncini and Michael Moore invited drummer Edison Machado, as the album is made up of versions of bossa nova songs except one tune composed by Bertoncini himself. Strollin’ (1987) contains jazz standards, including swing, bebop and hard bop, and soul jazz. And in Two in Time (1989) they once again face the formidable task of creating an attractive guitar and double bass duo repertoire for listeners with a balanced blend of slow and fast melodies. Then they continued to play together during the 1990s, although didn’t return to the recording studios.

In 1989 Bertoncini participated in The Best Thing for You by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker and But Beautiful by singer Nancy Wilson; in 1990 in Some People’s Lives by singer, actress, songwriter and film producer Bette Midler; in 1992 in Music of Irwin Bazelon by contemporary classical music composer Irwin Bazelon and Nnenna Freelon by jazz singer, arranger, composer and record producer Nnenna Freelon; and in 1995 in Swingtime! by the brass instruments quintet Canadian Brass, which in this album added him, keyboardist Warren Bernhardt and eleven other wind instrument musicians.

In 1996 Bertoncini took part in Jiggs & Gene making an unusual duo with trombonist Jiggs Whigham and in 1997 in It’s Time by singer and actress Linda Eder. Also in 1997 he published Jobim: Someone to Light up My Life with arrangements of songs by great bossa nova songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim, which was very successful internationally, especially in Brazil, along with Jon Bater and John Arruci on percussion. In 1999 Gene Bertoncini went on sale featuring a concert at The Floating Jazz Festival with pianist Bill Charlap and double bassist Sean Smith. That same year, guitarist and record producer Mark Elf brought together five more guitarists, including Bertoncini, to launch We Remember Tal: A Tribute to Tal Farlow.