Though he's not publicly well known, this veteran guitarist is highly respected in the inner music circles of Los Angeles for session work ranging from Claus Ogerman, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Mark Isham to Bobby McFerrin, the Commodores, and the Pointer Sisters. Together with Isham and Patrick O'Hearn, Maunu performed in the short-lived but still-talked-about Group 87, an early '80s progressive band. Maunu's single release as a leader is one of the finest albums on the Narada label. ~ Linda Kohanov