This is an excellent recording. Not a throw-away tune on the CD. Every song is interesting, and the music is eclectic. Some outstanding musicianship is on dislpay here.  Love the fusion tunes, and the standards are cool too. My favorites   are the opeming and closing fusion-oriented tunes- some very high energy playing. I also loved the take on Giant Steps- almost like an island/world beat type thing going on there. Just Friends was fun too! I've heard many big band versions of this tune, but it was really neat to hear it in combo-setting with an organ.Looking forward to future releases!
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The first thing that stands out about this CD is that it clearly is not just another independently released,  self-produced, artist owned recording.  The quality is major label class with great songs and all the musicians on this record are world class.  The sidemen actually play like it's their recording.  
 
The second thing is that there is a very unusual balance of traditional jazz concepts and performances alongside much more modern playing.  This recording is composed of two different sessions.  One is purely modern jazz-funk-fusion while the other is a modern recasting of several often played jazz compositions and standards.  You might think that the material alone promotes the concept that he is playing stylistically from two different eras but instead I think Rothstein is playing like that all that time and no matter what the material is his playing reflects the entire history of jazz guitar soloing right up to the present time.  I think that's quite an accomplishment.  
 
One of the jazz standards he does on this recording is John Coltrane's "Giant Steps".  Ordinarily I think this song is quickly  becoming over-played but in this case Andy has really put a nice, new coat of paint on this tune and as it is I think this may be my current favorite recording of this tune.  I honestly very much like everything on this recording but my favorite might be Minor League.  This is about as modern and hip as you can get but traditional jazz purists are going to recognize it for it is -- PURE JAZZ.
 
Compass, Words For Word and Wit of the Staircase are all winners as well.   
 
Worth noting also is that the cover on this CD is equally beautiful.
 
If you like anything from Pat Martino to Mike Stern I can't imagine that you won't love this recording because it is an exceptional recording and for that reason I am going to rate 5 Stars.
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Andy Rothstein is a master of many styles and has the songwriting skills to show them off, as he proves song after song on Wit of the Staircase.  This CD is well-produced and is graced by many sterling performances, most notably the horn work of Lew Soloff of Blood, Sweat & Tears fame.  While the “Blue Note” vibe tunes are well done (including a cool take on the jazz classic “Giant Steps”), it was Andy’s original compositions that were the highlight for me:

•	Return to Reason – the impressive opener has the band firing on all cylinders as Andy’s superfast guitar theme is doubled, first by the bass then by trumpet.  Andy then lets loose with a fluid and distinctive solo that is a joy to listen to.  
 
•	Compass – I had to listen to Compass several times to begin to appreciate the beauty of this understated gem.  Andy’s solo is an impressive feat of saying more with less.

•	Wit of the Staircase – the title track is likely the catchiest tune on the album, with a memorable guitar figure that makes this a stand-out track on any contemporary jazz playlist.

•	Word for Word – opens with a beautiful 70s soul vibe that takes on a harder-edged snarl as Andy builds his solo.

•	Knuckle Down – Closing the album on a high note is this funky guitar/horn workout.
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