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Contemporary jazz being the fickle world it is, even a hugely popular artist who takes a few years between releases had better re-emerge with something pretty explosive to get the ball rolling again. Canadian guitarist Brian Hughes emerges from an undeserved three-year label limbo with a fresh, exotic fire in his belly on the global village of Straight to You, which marks Higher Octave Music's first official foray into truly adventurous jazz fusion. The radio-friendly fare is there, of course, but it's the way Hughes evokes Wes Montgomery while weaving a seductive stew of Latin, Brazilian, Middle Eastern, and funky blues into both pop and jazz contexts that makes this a genre-busting classic. Wherever he's been traveling over the years with Celtic songstress Loreena McKennitt has given Hughes inspiration to splash tropical here, flamenco meets Middle Eastern there, and Brazilian just for the weekend. While both of his guitars mesmerize, it's the go-for-broke band interaction (particularly his chemistry with pianist Les Portelli) that makes this a hearty return to form. ~ Jonathan Widran

"Straight To You" was picked by JAZZIZ magazine in the March '97 critics choice issue as one of the Top 10 contemporary jazz recordings of 1996. JAZZIZ proclaimed the album a "genre-busting classic"and made note of the guitarists' "Fresh & exotic fire, blending influences like Wes Montgomery into a seductive stew of Latin, Brazilian and Middle Eastern elements."
Hughes was honored with the SOCAN (Society of Canadian Authors and Composers) Award as Jazz & Instrumental Composer of 1997 based on the worldwide airplay of "Straight To You" which received strong support in the USA charting in the Top 15 on the Gavin and Radio & Records airplay charts.

JAZZ TIMES (review February 1997)."Straight To You" showcases Hughes' astonishing speed and fluid, smooth play in world beat rhythmic settings, from the flowing brasilbeat "Sesimbra Sun" to the bustling tropical shaker, "Pica", with a guitar - piano duet taking on a steel drum-like resonance. Not content to stop there, Hughes twists and weaves stylistic threads to suit his need---"Soul Fruit's" funky yet elegant blues sounds like Pat Metheny and Robben Ford sat down for a jam session, and "Andalusian Night" snakes a middle eastern melody through a heady flamenco guitar strum for a mysterious, sensuous effect. These original combinations, highlighting Hughes' considerable talents, make "Straight To You" a must have.