As the title indicates, this premiere from guitarist Jay Soto began back at an early age and came to fruition just last year. He doesn’t disappoint and the results are quite remarkable. The music varies from track to track and is never weak in its delivery or composition. It is understandable to see why he has won so many guitar competitions. Blend in the sax work of Michael Lington and this is one you won’t put down any time soon.

The CD opens with a great little number entitled “Live It Up.” The initial tease gives way to Soto’s guitar chops and the note for note duet with Lington. The chorus is infectious and they play off each other while bringing the song to a climatic finish. “Caught In The Moment” begins dark with acoustic piano giving way to Benson-like guitar. The sound is fat with continuance of a piano echo. Some of Soto’s best work is here with great riffs that mirror of the omni-present bass line. The title track, “Long Time Coming,” is full of harmony with spices of sax from Bryne Donaldson. And while “Song for Mary-Cruz” shows more of Soto’s acoustic side, “Reflections” ambles along with a laid-back pace and accents of muted trumpet.
 
The pace picks up with “Never Let You Go” and features a chorus that you’ll want to hear over and over. It’s syncopated while growing upward at the same time. I’m sure you’ve heard this one over the airways by now. My favorite on the whole disc has got to be “Remember The Night.” It begins innocently enough with acoustic piano and sax before Soto blends in with his guitar. Lington is back and the two play well together. The emotion is strong as they both climb higher and higher until coasting back together with common threads for a remarkable ending. The real fun track here is “”Miss My Cabana.” It has a calypso feel and Latin beat that has everyone up dancing. It reminds me a lot of some of Steve Oliver’s work with positive chords giving way to steel drums and some vocal riffs. Be sure to back this one up again before you head down the road.

Both “Closer To You” and “Black Orpheus” slow down the pace as the CD comes to an end. They’re both reflective while the former features the fat sound of an earlier tune and the latter catches Soto with a little Spanish influence.

If you’re like so many who missed this disc when it first came out, I’d suggest you find a copy soon. It’s very refreshing. There are a lot of people out there who have already discovered Jay Soto, but for me it was A Long Time Coming.

- Harvey Cline