Terry Gomes loves making music.

That’s clear from the moment you scan the man’s bio: years of study and practice as a composer and performer and a catalog of recordings that illustrates a creative restlessness, always reaching for the next idea or new way to meld and expand upon his influences.

In the past, that has resulted in albums of singer-songwriter folk-pop, instrumental jazz-pop, and distinctly Caribbean music reflecting Gomes’ Guyanese heritage. He has also performed both in rock bands and as part of a flute / classical guitar duo, as well as teaching both rock and classical guitar.

This time around, Gomes set out to “delve into more of a vintage rock sound funneled through my particular influences.” The resulting EP—two songs with vocals sandwiched around three tasty instrumentals—blends an early rock vibe with the Latin/Caribbean elements featured in his recent releases, with consistently appealing results.

The Latin vibe is ascendant on opening cut “Tego Agogo,” featuring a lively full-band arrangement augmented with trumpet and timbale. Gomes adds tight, spicy organ and guitar solos midway through this playful tune that feels designed to get your toes tapping and hips swaying.

The vintage blues-rock sound takes the spotlight on “Swagger,” a deliberately paced instrumental again featuring guitar and organ. There’s a hint of Booker T & The MGs in the track’s smoky flavor, which will forever be a compliment.

“Seaway Days” opens as a wistful but steady electric piano-and-rhythm-section number, before adding electric guitar, finding another gear and rocking out a bit. Something about the progression and cadence does convey the feeling of a boat trip out on the open water.

Third instrumental “Nightfun 10-31” features knotty, energetic guitar / organ interplay in a tight early rock arrangement, full of drive and a bit of swing. An atmospheric bridge provides a nice interlude midway.

Closer “It Goes Like So” is a rather lounge-y ballad about being haunted by a song or melody, whose central riff is suitably haunting. It makes for a warm and memorable finish to this concise outing.

Featured players include Gomes on guitar, keys and vocals, Nick Dyson (trumpet), Alex Mastronardi (bass), Jeff Asselin (drums on 2, 3, and 4) and Arien Villegas (drums and timbale on 1 and 5). The tracks were recorded and mixed by Steve Foley, who co-produced the EP with Gomes.

2 Open 3 Closed finds Terry Gomes in fine form, mixing several of his favorite musical flavors into a cocktail of sounds that’s effortlessly engaging, a concise travelogue of an explorer’s latest adventures.

Rating: B+

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