September 2022, Café Central, Madrid. My James Taylor colleague Walt Fowler and I were on vacation in Spain with our wives and JT was in Madrid on tour with just a trio. James called me up and asked if I had some suggestions for their night off. I said go to Café Central to hear my friend Lluís Coloma and his band. James brought Steve Gadd, and Walt and I brought our horns. The band was burning, we sat in, James and Steve loved it, stayed the whole night.

That led to three sold out nights at the Central last autumn with me as guest soloist. And that led to three more nights at Café Central playing the music on this CD. Luckily, Lluís was in New York City in April, stayed at my apartment and we were able to select the tunes, a combination of some of his, some of mine and some classics like 'Mona Lisa' and 'Rockin’ Robin,' and figure out the arrangements. So, although it’s a studio recording, we had the benefit of playing it live for three nights, six sets. In essence, a live recording.

Be prepared for some high energy, boogie on down and get it on up music from Lluís’ great band and yours truly. We had a great time doing this, hope you dig it. Play it loud.

—‘Blue Lou’ Marini (From the inside liner notes of SA 052 CD)