KEVIN BREIT
STELLA BELLA STRADA
STONY PLAIN RECORDS SPCD 1406
A COMMON VOW–BUTTONS AND ZIPPERS–VEGAS ADDRESS–MOTHER’S CUPBOARD–SHOO THE BLUEBIRD–STELLA BELLA STRADA–OF SILK AND HONEY–MARCELLO LOREN–IF YOU KNEW–KICK AT THE GRAPE
Guitar virtuoso Kevin Breit released two albums for Stony Plain Records in collaboration with fellow fretburner Harry Manx, and has now completed his second solo project for the label. “Solo” hits it squarely on the head–Kevin is not only on guitars, mandolin, and bass clarinet, he serves as producer, and headed up the mixing, mastering, and engineering as well. Also, as with his other musical projects, many of his friends are along for the ride.
Special mention must be made of the guitar used by Kevin throughout this set. The Stella Bella Strada was custom-made for Kevin by Joseph Yanuziello, and he puts it to great use on these ten unique instrumentals.
Leading off the parade is a string section intro that gives way to Kevin’s single-note leads, making “A Common Vow” quite the orchestral statement! “Buttons And Zippers” plugs into a funky second-line pattern, this time utilizing a horn section. “Vegas Address” is full of showmanship and pomp and circumstance befitting that town, while the title cut features some of the few words on this album. An Italian-spoken intro gives way to flashy runs on this unique guitar over another orchestral backdrop and Gary Breit’s Wurlitzer organ!
Kevin Breit’s last album, “Johnny Goldtooth And The Chevy Casanovas,” was nominated for Best Instrumental Album at the 2019 Juno Awards. His latest, the “beautiful star of the road,” “Stella Bella Strada,” is another guitar masterpiece! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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