Back in the mid 1980s and ‘90s, Mesa/Blue Moon, then headed up by Jim Snowden at Jem Records, was a big deal of an indie label that came of age just as the CD was introduced as the new recording medium.

Now  40 years after the label’s heyday, Mesa Bluemoon, or at least the Bluemoon part, is back again with Take Time To Listen, a 2024 CD release of solo instrumental acoustic guitar magic by Bill Banfield, a/k/a Bill Banfield’s Jazz Urbane.

With its 16 tracks clocking in at 73 minutes, recorded in Boston in September 2023, Take The Time To Listen offers a well-done album of first-take jazz covers featuring song classics penned by Carole King, Sting, Elton John along with jazz composer legends like George Gershwin on a number of classic covers.

Smooth jazz fans liken him to acoustic instrumental guitar icons such as Earl Klugh along with further comparisons to Banfield’s own heroes, including jazz guitar legends like Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell.

Bill Banfield is also highly regarded as a classical composer having written 12 symphonies and 7 operas so it’s unexpected that he returns with an album of jazzy, funky covers for acoustic guitar. Either way, jazz guitar fans will applaud Take Time To Listen.