Post by cozyal on Aug 13, 2009 19:55:42 GMT -5
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Howard Leese - Secret Weapon CD review
By Alun "Cozy Al" Williams
[/glow]By Alun "Cozy Al" Williams
It has to be said, that this guy is a serious talent, on second thoughts let’s make that …, SERIOUS talent!
Howard Leese, as most people may know, first made his name big time of course with the Wilson sisters, Ann & Nancy in Heart, on the album Dreamboat Annie & that great release was followed by countless Heart releases until moving on to join Paul Rodgers touring band. That was obviously one smart move, as he’s since become a part of the current Bad Company touring line up.
I always enjoyed Heart’s material & Paul Rodgers so when I heard Howard was doing a solo album, I was wondering what path he’d take, a similar one or something more out there?
Well, it has some interesting if strange moments here & there, but for the most part, I think most fans of his previous material would not be disappointed by this release & in fact, be very impressed!
He’s really pulled out all the stops on this album & has a whole host of serious talent being a part of it all.
I will say this though, there’s clear evidence in his writing that his working with Paul Rodgers, has rubbed off on him as there are elements of Bad Company throughout, perhaps none more so than opener, Alive Again.
Leese’ production work has great textures to it & that is clear from this opening track alone, with a great performance by Joe Lynn Turner, taking the mic here. Just love this opener.
How does he follow it? Well how about Paul Rodgers stepping in here on track 2, Heal the Broken Hearted, which sounds as good as anything off Rodgers Now album, Rodgers last really good solo studio release IMHO.
The groove really continues with Hot to Cold, with the incredible vocal prowess of Deanna Johnston, sharing lead vocals duties with Joe Lynn Turner here & again this track is an incredibly strong rocking track. Great hooks so far, on all 3 of the opening tracks.
OK, French Quarter next, really confuses me as it’s a 40 second piano jazz piece written by Leese, but performed by Keith Emerson. Nice touch, but, why so brief & why no more? Ours is not to question why, right?
33 West Street is a phenomenal instrumental piece, featuring one Paul Reed Smith who’s guitars Leese has latched onto & endorses, alongside similar rock great like Steve Lukather & Steve Morse, to name just 2 & I have to say that this track, really conjures up much of the excellence associated with the likes of Toto or Lukather.
So much & so many levels in the whole piece all summed up in just under 4 ½ minutes! Sheer brilliance!
The South Summit follows a similar kind of style, if a little more bluesy to the last track, with a true rich, blues vocal from Duke Fame. A really awesome track yet again here.
In Rada’s Theme next, it’s time to take things down a little with some great interchange between Leese guitar & keyboards, as well as some beautiful harmony guitar work.
I have to say that I would love to see this album performed live, it really is class throughout.
Former Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison makes his mark on the next track The Vine that brings to mind perhaps a similar structure to what Chicago could achieve at their best. I apologize to Howard for comparisons here, as it’s meant to be detrimental, but since this is his first solo album – Hopefully not the last. – I couldn’t for example say it brings back memories of this era or that era …, but this album stands on it’s own merits, but with renowned vocalists, from classic bands it’s hard of course not to see some comparisons.
Throughout this also, the sheer class level of musicianship is simply perfect!
In These Eyes is another strong collaboration, this time between Keith St. John & Leese, another beautifully layered track ballad to mid pace.
The instrumental Vermilion Border is a stirring, very emotive piece that almost conjures up some Celtic type feel & brought goose bumps up, each time I listened to it. It really is one of those moving type pieces. Beautiful, seriously!
I really can’t say enough, how much this album has stunned me & is probably my favorite release of the year.
The soulful, bluesy I’ve Been Leaving You is next & features the undeniable talent of Andrew Black on vocals, not dissimilar to say Glenn Hughes, but Leese guitar playing here …, simply killer! Very cool jam indeed!
The Bernstein piece Somewhere next, listed as the last track on the sleeve is a mass of orchestration, but a full rock band jamming & that guitar soaring …. Sweet!
Seems that there is a hidden last track, not mentioned on the sleeve that is full of some eerie, crazy almost disturbing sounds, an outtake from a horror movie perhaps?!
All in all, a killer debut solo release from Howard Leese. - You should’ve done this years back mate! - & no, it’s not an all out rocker, but instead a very assured, strong varied in places, class release.
Really well worth checking out!
5/5 for me.
Alun "Cozy Al" Williams
Howard Leese, as most people may know, first made his name big time of course with the Wilson sisters, Ann & Nancy in Heart, on the album Dreamboat Annie & that great release was followed by countless Heart releases until moving on to join Paul Rodgers touring band. That was obviously one smart move, as he’s since become a part of the current Bad Company touring line up.
I always enjoyed Heart’s material & Paul Rodgers so when I heard Howard was doing a solo album, I was wondering what path he’d take, a similar one or something more out there?
Well, it has some interesting if strange moments here & there, but for the most part, I think most fans of his previous material would not be disappointed by this release & in fact, be very impressed!
He’s really pulled out all the stops on this album & has a whole host of serious talent being a part of it all.
I will say this though, there’s clear evidence in his writing that his working with Paul Rodgers, has rubbed off on him as there are elements of Bad Company throughout, perhaps none more so than opener, Alive Again.
Leese’ production work has great textures to it & that is clear from this opening track alone, with a great performance by Joe Lynn Turner, taking the mic here. Just love this opener.
How does he follow it? Well how about Paul Rodgers stepping in here on track 2, Heal the Broken Hearted, which sounds as good as anything off Rodgers Now album, Rodgers last really good solo studio release IMHO.
The groove really continues with Hot to Cold, with the incredible vocal prowess of Deanna Johnston, sharing lead vocals duties with Joe Lynn Turner here & again this track is an incredibly strong rocking track. Great hooks so far, on all 3 of the opening tracks.
OK, French Quarter next, really confuses me as it’s a 40 second piano jazz piece written by Leese, but performed by Keith Emerson. Nice touch, but, why so brief & why no more? Ours is not to question why, right?
33 West Street is a phenomenal instrumental piece, featuring one Paul Reed Smith who’s guitars Leese has latched onto & endorses, alongside similar rock great like Steve Lukather & Steve Morse, to name just 2 & I have to say that this track, really conjures up much of the excellence associated with the likes of Toto or Lukather.
So much & so many levels in the whole piece all summed up in just under 4 ½ minutes! Sheer brilliance!
The South Summit follows a similar kind of style, if a little more bluesy to the last track, with a true rich, blues vocal from Duke Fame. A really awesome track yet again here.
In Rada’s Theme next, it’s time to take things down a little with some great interchange between Leese guitar & keyboards, as well as some beautiful harmony guitar work.
I have to say that I would love to see this album performed live, it really is class throughout.
Former Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison makes his mark on the next track The Vine that brings to mind perhaps a similar structure to what Chicago could achieve at their best. I apologize to Howard for comparisons here, as it’s meant to be detrimental, but since this is his first solo album – Hopefully not the last. – I couldn’t for example say it brings back memories of this era or that era …, but this album stands on it’s own merits, but with renowned vocalists, from classic bands it’s hard of course not to see some comparisons.
Throughout this also, the sheer class level of musicianship is simply perfect!
In These Eyes is another strong collaboration, this time between Keith St. John & Leese, another beautifully layered track ballad to mid pace.
The instrumental Vermilion Border is a stirring, very emotive piece that almost conjures up some Celtic type feel & brought goose bumps up, each time I listened to it. It really is one of those moving type pieces. Beautiful, seriously!
I really can’t say enough, how much this album has stunned me & is probably my favorite release of the year.
The soulful, bluesy I’ve Been Leaving You is next & features the undeniable talent of Andrew Black on vocals, not dissimilar to say Glenn Hughes, but Leese guitar playing here …, simply killer! Very cool jam indeed!
The Bernstein piece Somewhere next, listed as the last track on the sleeve is a mass of orchestration, but a full rock band jamming & that guitar soaring …. Sweet!
Seems that there is a hidden last track, not mentioned on the sleeve that is full of some eerie, crazy almost disturbing sounds, an outtake from a horror movie perhaps?!
All in all, a killer debut solo release from Howard Leese. - You should’ve done this years back mate! - & no, it’s not an all out rocker, but instead a very assured, strong varied in places, class release.
Really well worth checking out!
5/5 for me.
Alun "Cozy Al" Williams
