For his second album, guitarist Sarel River takes his regular quartet through a play list of original material, with the exception of Joe Henderson's "Serenity". River is a native of Haifa, Israel, has gigged in Budapest, eventually relocating in New York where he has become active on the local jazz circuit. The not oft heard combination of guitar and flute creates a different but pleasant aural sensation, having an echo chamber effect on some cuts. River and flautist Matan Klein work together in carrying the melody lines of River's compositions.
   Helping to keep the music from falling into a rut is River's ability to balance smooth, clean single string affects with heavier chords, especially when playing in duet with Klein. Not only does this give greater variety to the quality of the guitar, but it also changes the sound of the flute, one of the more limited instruments in the jazz arsenal. This recalls work by groups headed by Joe Farrell and Hubert Laws. The tactic also gives the impression that there are two guitars on the album, one playing strictly rhythm. One hears the effect of this approach on such tunes as "Two in One" and "Back Home". The group achieves a delicate balance in the way they mesh. As River and Matan take up the front line duties, Mat Pennman's bass lays a solid foundation, along with an occasional solo, while fine drummer Steve Hass stays busy creating a variety of rhythmic undertones without overreaching.
   River's compositions also are not overreaching and are unlikely to become part of the basic jazz literature. But they swing and bounce along, fortified by the outstanding musicianship of the performers, with the flute playing especially distinguished. Recommended (Four Stars ****)

   Love at first sight often involves another person or even an object. But for jazz guitarist and composer, Sarel River, Cupid’s fateful arrow struck the very first time he heard jazz. As a young boy growing up in Haifa, Israel, the now Briarwood-based guitarist says jazz was something he felt connected to immediately. "It was right," he said. Featuring songs like "Misery," "Back Home" and "Moving," his new album is also his first. The album, "2 In One," conveys River’s passion for jazz and how he uses it as a tool to communicate and also understand himself and the world. River, 38, started playing guitar when he was 18, jamming away with his friends. He soon started taking lessons and came across jazz, after which he was never the same. "I was really impressed by the richness of the music."  
   Eventually he decided to move to America, the birthplace of jazz, to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. "I knew that if I really wanted to learn, I had to go to the place where it came from." River went to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied guitar performance and received a degree in music. After graduating in 1994, he followed his wife to Budapest, Hungary, where she was going to school for a year. The Eastern European city inspired River to explore and experiment musically and to eventually write "Budapest in 95," which can be found on his album.
   River says all of his experiences affect his music in one way or another. Some of the masters who have inspired River include John Scofield, an innovator of modern jazz; horn players John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins because of their improvisational techniques and piano player-composer Thelonius Monk, one of River’s favorites. He is also a fan of early and modern jazz, be-bop, swing and classical music. When River finally made it to New York, after Budapest, he knew he had come home. "It is the mecca of jazz. It blew my mind away because it’s the only place in the world where people can live in a place with perfect harmony with each other."  He discovered noted Manhattan jazz clubs like Smalls, The Blue Note and Bar 51, that quickly became his favorite spots. River says recording his new album motivated him to finally put together all of the ideas and compositions he has collected through the years. The title, "2 In One," comes from a blend of two musical ideas. The sounds of the guitar and the flute come together uniquely, giving the album a distinct sound and appeal.
   The album features a quartet which includes Steve Hass on the drums, Mat Pennman on the bass and Mattan Klein on the flute. In one of his songs, "Moving," River wrote about having to take a second job as a mover in order to pay his way through school in Boston.  Another song, "Misery," is a ballad he composed some 10 years ago when he was experiencing difficult financial times. It captures his mood at the time with an inspiring and moving guitar solo. Keeping in tune with River’s technique of drawing from his own life experiences, "Back Home" was inspired by a visit to Israel six years ago. "The introduction sets the mood (jazz waltz) by building the groove gradually."  One of River’s priorities is to keep growing as a musician. "I want to experience new things in music and I want to prove much more by exploring more possibilities in music. "Music is not just for musicians. It touches everyone. It is the best medium to get through to people and the best therapy." Jazz, he said, is something that will always be with him. 
   Plans to produce a new album next year are in the works. The quartet will be touring the East Coast starting in April. "2 In One," which is nationally distributed by Big Daddy, can be found at HMV and Tower Records.

   Here is a new CD by SAREL RIVER that gives you some excellent instrument tracks nicely done with
guitar, bass and flute. Sarel is not only a supberb guitarist but he is a composer, also. One of my favorites on the album is the cut 'Misery', and I must thank Sarel for giving us two versions of the song. He wrote all but one selection on the CD and the tracks to check out are 'Back Home'', the title cut 'Two In One', "Misery' and 'Moving''. Sarel's music is stimulating and inviting. He has a flair for mixing instrumentation that adds to the enjoyment of listening to this superb CD over and over again.

Sarel River - Flute and Guitar work very well together - NICE COMPOSITION - liked "Home Alone"

   I enjoyed very much this marvelous recording by this brilliant young composer-guitarist Sarel River. It's nice to know that his career started here in Boston where he attended The Berklee College of Music. Sarel's music will continue to captivate listeners for many years to come. This is a wonderful debut for a multi-talented musician who deserves to be heard by all those who appreciate great jazz.

   Sarel is an outstanding musician and a quality person. We have placed his CD on hundreds of stations across America. This is awesome, Sarel's future is very bright I believe in due time the young man will achieve great heights in recording and working all over the world.

   Mr. Blue Eyes is Sarel River's third studio release as a leader. Sarel's musical journey began as a child in Israel, absorbing everything from European classical music to pop music. He studied the violin and later the guitar. Eventually jazz was introduced to him and Sarel commented, "After that, it was all jazz, all the time." River entered the Berklee School of music in 1989 and began an inten­sive collaboration with professor Jerry Bergonzi, who described Sarel as "an unbelievable player and person­ality."
   River has had a number of years' experience playing throughout Europe and the US. Performing as well as composing and arranging are skills that Sarel has honed over the last decade since finishing school. Mr. Blue Eyes demonstrates all of these skills very highly. A tribute to his son who passed away at age 8 months from cancer, Mr. Blue Eyes is a beautiful work. The recording is described as "ebullient and brooding, complex and completely accessible. It reflects the skills of a maturing artist who has by necessity transformed tragedy into a stunning homage." Agreed, there is a depth to the compositions and arranging that reflects the Miles and Trane recordings. While Sarel is a guitarist, he eschews the typical "head, burn, trade 4's, head and out" type of song. His compositions are more complex, yet remain very melodic. Several tunes feature piano and horn arrangements in the foreground. The guitar supports the compositions with a very strong voice, as well. The improvisation is superb, modern, yet melodic. River's disc is a breath of fresh air. The interplay between musicians is intuitive and sophisticated. Chops are fantastic, yet restrained when appropriate.
   From the classical-sounding piano intro in "Mount Judah on My Mind," to the Latin sounding "Stormy Tuesday" and the beautiful, lulling "Mr. Blue Eyes," Sarel River's latest disc provides a window into the creative world of a very musical player. Mr. Blue Eyes is well worth a listen. I look forward to hearing more music from this talented guitarist.

   Sarel River's independently produced CD, Mr. Blue Eyes, is a wonderful document of the healthy state of so-called "straight ahead" jazz. River's pro­gram is comprised of entirely original material, all of which would more or less fall into the category of traditional or straight ahead jazz. Do not take this to mean that the disc sounds dated or old fa­shioned. Quite the contrary. River's jazz may be rooted in tradition but it is fresh and modern sound­ing. As impressive with his pen as his guitar, Sarel River is a musician of much depth.
   Mr Blue Eyes begins with "Mount Judah on My Mind", a bluesy medium swing number. This tune has a relaxed and laid back feel and swingin' solos from both River and trumpeter Dave Scott. This tune is preceded and followed by a contrasting ser­ene "vignette". "Stormy Tuesday" follows, begin­ning with an introduction by bassist Ron McClure, in an Afro-Cuban Latin style. River's instrumental choices and arrangement on this tune (as well as others) have a chamber like quality, decidedly re­miniscent of Miles Davis' classic Birth of the Cool. That Gil Evans / Miles Davis sensibility can also be found on the medium swing tune "Main Street Fugue". The title cut is a ballad which River per­forms with McClure and drummer Bruce Hall. The melody and changes are well crafted and River's solo on this tune is captivating.
   The program continues with "Waltz for EJ", a light and gentle tune, set in 1/4 time. The band here is a quartet; the aforementioned trio plus pianist David Berkman. Another quartet (this time it's the trio and Adam Kolker on alto flute) perform "The Power of Your Smile", a bossa-nova. River and Kolker take fantastic solos and the unusual choice of the alto flute makes a fine addition to this tune. "Short Visit" is another waltz. It begins with a trio introduction. Kolker plays tenor. Solos here are up to the high standards of the rest of the CD. The closing number is "I-95", performed by the same quartet (plus pianist David Berkman). River plays his medium blues melody alone one time and in unison with Kolker, still on tenor, a second. River sounds just as tasty comping with or without the piano. The tunes are well written and the performances are excellent. This is a CD definitely worthy of a serious listen.
   One of the first things that struck me about Mr Blue Eyes was the cover, for there's a beautiful baby boy pictured on it. He looks to be under a year old. Look closely and you'll see that he must be Mr. Blue Eyes himself, because he does have rather striking blue eyes. Look even closer and you'll see the dedication at the bottom of the cover. Mr Blues Eyes is dedicated to Sarel River's son, who died at the age of eight months from Neuroblastoma. One of the first things I said in this review was that Sarel River was a muscian of much depth. That this horrible tragedy may have something to do with that depth is a harrowing thought. What a terrible price to pay. Deepest condolences go to Sarel from this reviewer and Improv Magazine. River makes a wish on the cover for his son. I'd like to end by wishing the same for the beautiful baby boy on the cover Mr. Blue Eyes. "May he rest in peace, and may his love to music keep his memory alive."

   The sun will shine again when the rain subsides and the clouds uncover the sun to shine in its magnificent sky. The release of Mr. Blue Eyes is a bittersweet one for guitar virtuoso Sarel River. This is the third studio release for River which was recorded in April of 2005. River’s baby boy, Ethan, also known as Mr. Blue Eyes passed away from cancer in June of 2004, at the age of eight months. After the initial shock and grief abated, River decided to pick up his guitar once again, and what he has created is not only a timeless tour de force but also, a truly devoted and inspirational homage to his dearly departed son. Each title and composition has a reference to baby Ethan’s life.
   River first became interested in music in his childhood home in Haifa, Israel where he was exposed to both classical music and opera. In 1989, River left Israel to study at one of the world’s most prestigious music schools – Boston’s Berklee College of Music. River has become known within the jazz scene for his commitment to performing his original compositions.
   Mr. Blue Eyes opens with the melancholy yet tender track, “Mount Judah On My Mind.” “Stormy Tuesday” is nothing short of brilliant! Everything from the stunning solos to the breaks. This song reflects emotional highs and lows. This track in particular will most assuredly be on repeat in every household fortunate to have a copy. The album continues with “Main Street Fugue” and the very audibly emotional “Mr. Blue Eyes.” “Waltz For E.J.” is another poignant composition. The talent of these musicians is almost tangible – and certainly easy to hear. The album closes with “The Power Of Your Smile,” “Short Visit,” and “I-95.” David Berkman on piano is, to some extent, reminiscent of Vince Guaraldi. Berkman is exceptional in his own right.
   This is an exceptional album due not only to the underlying inspiration, but also, to the amazing artistry established by these wonderful musicians. Mr. Blue Eyes will live on forever.