Bill Connors will always be best known for being the original guitarist with Chick Corea's Return to Forever, preceding Al DiMeola. After making one classic album (Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy), Connors left RtF and has had a lower profile ever since, spending some time exploring acoustic guitar. On 2004's Return, Connors is back on electric guitar but playing post-bop jazz rather than fusion and with a tone closer to Kenny Burrell than to DiMeola. His nine originals sometimes have catchy grooves but they are never predictable. Among the highlights are the bluish strut "Mr. Cool," the brooding ballad "McMinor" and the driving momentum of "Nobody Yet To" plus the one "cover tune," a lyrical rendition of John Coltrane's "Brasilia." Listeners coming to Bill Connors' Return without any preconceptions will enjoy this tasteful and subtle effort.