Smooth Jazz Now.com :

Jamie Bonk-A Perfect Tomorrow Indie/Bonk Productions

Here's your perfect road trip companion. It has that inspirational driving force, a smoothness that is meant to be savored and it's downright irresistible. Toronto's Jamie Bonk knows a thing or two about that invisible flow of energy that keeps us all going and in the wrong hands it can easily be a soundtrack for screaming nerves. I was once held hostage listening to the Village People for days on a long road trip touring Northern New Brunswick so take it from me up tempo doesn't always mean inspirational. Bonk has created an ideal combination of guitar music that's up and yet comforting. A Perfect Tomorrow opens with the vibrant happy 'Tofino' bringing to mind a quote from the late Grover Washington Jr. "Feel good music just doesn't get you from A to B it helps you connect with what's in between the destinations and that makes me smile". With his effortless guitar work it's as if Bonk is casually explaining the importance of getting our work done but not getting so nerved up about it. Much Like Jesse Cook or Ottmar Liebert this is genre-bending music that's a little flamenco with a New-Age feel but it fits on any Smooth-Jazz format. The Mid-tempo hook laden 'Rain' reminded me of another great nylon string guitarist Chet Atkins with it's ability to hook you in within a few seconds again proving that a good instrumentals can have the same effect as a top 40 hit. 'Pretty Girl' has this TV theme groove that's bright and alive and the eastern flavored 'Haze' sense of mystery gives the album a different mix. Bonk's musical dept was no doubt enriched by growing up in a family on the move while living in Eindhoven, Holland, Jamie discovered the band Cream and one of his favorite sounds - feedback. Here's a guy who traveled a lot and was taking notes, experimenting and enjoying himself. Jamie Bonk's self titled debut from 1997 was a huge hit on New-Age lists charting for 18 consecutive months earning him New Age Voice (NAV) Magazine's Radio Album of the Year for 1999. As good as that album was this one's a step above and will likely garner huge airplay on one of the fastest growing formats in North America Smooth-Jazz. On 'A Perfect Tomorrow' Bonk has weaved all the elements of success that guitar stars like Marc Antoine and Russ Freeman have been doing for the last few years most notably their ability make middle of the road instrumentals sound catchy smooth and hip. After easily paying his dues studying and teaching the secrets of the guitar and dabbling in all the genre's Jamie Bonk has perfected something that's ready for the masses.