Is Feel the Night a good place to start with Lee Ritenour?

Yes, Feel the Night is recommended as a starting point for new Lee Ritenour listeners. Smooth jazz fusion interweaves infectious grooves with melodic guitar lines, inviting listeners to unwind and dance. By the time 'Feel the Night' was released in January 1979, Lee Ritenour had established himself as a prominent session guitarist and solo artist. This album followed his successful debut, 'First Course,' from 1976 and marked Ritenour's continued exploration of jazz fusion, combining elements of pop and funk.

Who is Feel the Night for?

Feel the Night works well if you're into steady progression with resolution, sway-inducing grooves throughout and for evening relaxation.

How many songs are on Feel the Night?

Feel the Night has 7 tracks, running approximately 37 minutes.

Feel the Night

Lee Ritenour · 1979

37 min · 7 tracks · jazz

Smooth jazz fusion interweaves infectious grooves with melodic guitar lines, inviting listeners to unwind and dance.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Feel the Night Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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You Make Me Feel Like Dancing — This track stands out for its catchy chorus and upbeat arrangement, capturing the essence of disco-infused jazz that resonated widely during its release.
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Wicked Wine — With its complex chord progressions and rich instrumentation, this track showcases Ritenour's virtuosity and his ability to blend jazz sophistication with accessible melodies.
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Market Place — This composition features an engaging interplay between guitar and keyboards, exemplifying Ritenour's knack for creating vibrant soundscapes within the jazz genre.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

56 /100

Foothills

Higher than 47% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong musicianship with infectious grooves but lacks significant depth for repeated listens.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of syncopated rhythms and layered guitar melodies, creating a smooth, danceable groove throughout.
Each track maintains a mid-tempo pace, with the exception of 'You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,' which serves as a standout upbeat moment.
The instrumentation often includes prominent keyboard and brass sections that complement Ritenour's guitar work, enhancing the overall texture.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady progression with resolution
sway-inducing grooves throughout
for evening relaxation
engaging melodies for socializing

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced listening experiences
seek standalone, punchy tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album features a hit single that established wider recognition for the artist.
Career context: By the time 'Feel the Night' was released in January 1979, Lee Ritenour had established himself as a prominent session guitarist and solo artist. This album followed his successful debut, 'First Course,' from 1976 and marked Ritenour's continued exploration of jazz fusion, combining elements of pop and funk.
Stylistic neighbors: Larry Carlton· Pat Metheny· Al Di Meola