New album from Germany-based jazz guitarist Martin Schulte is a thrilling experience

(Cologne, Germany) Written by Robert Sutton. It begins with a lone playful sax, almost like whistling in the dark. Then a throbbing bass gradually creeps in as shuffling drums heighten the tension. As soon as Martin Schulte starts jamming on his guitar, we're off to the races.

The track is called "The Team," and it helps explain why the album is titled In Transit. Schulte's music is all about movement - forward, sideways, fast, or slow. Schulte is a creative enough guitarist to guide his instrument and his bandmates into unpredictable directions.

Fortunately, the high-I.Q. experimentation of In Transit never loses sight of the groove. Sometimes the desire for inventiveness can make an artist neglect a listener's need for melodic hooks or emotionally involving beats, but Schulte doesn't fall into this trap.

On "Emoticon," Peter Ehwald's slow-burning saxophone paints layers of atmosphere as Schulte weaves a spider's web of enigmatic guitar riffs; again, there is a buildup that reels in the ear with its air of mystery before culminating in a smoking climax. The title cut is especially lovely with Schulte's spellbinding guitar echoing the sense of wonder of swimming through the stars.

According to Schulte, the inspiration behind In Transit is actually a simple one. "I want to play and write music that people can enjoy, and that I can enjoy myself," he explained. Schulte added that music, especially creating it, has been an integral part of his life since childhood. "I recorded songs at home with an Atari, a sampler, and my guitar when I was younger," he revealed.

With In Transit, though, those humble beginnings evolved into a thrilling collaborative experience. "It felt great to play and record my jazz originals the first time for demo recordings. It was wonderful to hear what other players put into my songs."

More Information: http://martinschulte.com

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