Lenny Solomon Band
Maybe Today
I had the great pleasure of making the musical acquaintance of Massachusetts-based Lenny
Solomon with his "Global Warming Blues" entry on the 2005 Songs for a Better
Planet compilation disc, produced by Toronto festival director and musician Brian
Gladstone.
Although Mr. Solomon has a penchant for creating solid
blues music with a lyrical social conscience, Maybe Today (2007) is a multi-flavored,
14-song collection encompassing dreamily reflective folk ballads ("Maybe Today"
and "Why"), dance-friendly country shuffles ("Spare
Change", "Friendly
Rock"), upbeat soft-rock melodies and rhythms ("When No One's On the
Run", "Island of Misplaced Souls") and fusions with a Dylan-like blues
foundation (e.g. "It's Snowing"). The mellow "Other Side of the
Street" has a Tom Petty/Neil Young influence to it, and speaking of the latter, Mr.
Young included Lenny's "Let's Go to Mars" track from this CD on his
Living with War Today "Songs of the Times" website listing. It was #20 on the
now-2000-plus song list in September 2007.
The fully competent Lenny Solomon Band is comprised of
Lenny on lead vocals, guitar and harmonica, Don Barry on bass and vocals, Dennis Gurgul on
drums and Bill Gibbs on lead guitar and vocals. Maria Breen and Leah McKinnon-Howe provide
extra vocals on the aforementioned "Let's Go to Mars". These players are
all experienced veterans who have gained the wisdom of playing music as a team rather than
trying to outdo each other with their individual talents. This naturally leads to a
thoroughly pleasant listening experience.
There are numerous songs that encourage repeated listens,
particularly "The Flood", a gentle but powerful ballad that features both
electric and acoustic guitar-picking. The world-weary "It's Snowing" and
"Maybe Today" (the title track) are also favorites of mine.
Overall, the CD has a country-rock feel to it (with just a slight vocal twang) and an
intellectual edge, to boot, so if that's your musical preference, you'll love
this recording, particularly "Nashville Star" and the closing, live-off-the-floor
"Players in the Band" (care of bassist Don Barry).
- D.M. Wells -
Southwest Blues CD Review - November 2007
Current Reviews - 2007 Reviews
