DANIEL DeLORENZO

CAN YOU NOT?

Independent Label

Daniel DeLorenzo, guitar/composer; Casey Toll, bass; Theous Jones, drums.

Daniel DeLorenzo is a jazz guitarist based in North Carolina.  His latest album, “Can You not” features his composer talents and unique approach to his guitar.  He has composed six original songs and reimagined Robert Schumann’s “Kinderszenen Op. 15 Motif (Scenes from Childhood).”   At first, I was shocked by the simplicity and melodic integrity of this Schumann composition.  Suddenly, it was overtaken by static fuzz on the guitar, throwing the entire production out of classical contemporary and into hard rock in the blink of an eye.  I was not impressed or entertained by this arrangement.

On the other hand, I enjoyed his compositions. DeLorenzo’s trio opens this production with an original tune by Daniel titled “On The Box.” It’s introduced by the briskly walking bass line of Casey Toll.  Theous Jones pushes the tempo forward with bluster, while Daniel DeLorenzo adds his creativity on guitar to the mix. This quickly becomes a favorite tune of mine.

The title tune, “Can You not” leaps into my listening room tapping staccato chords into space.  DeLorenzo’s guitar introduces us to this catchy melody and Toll’s bass slaps the rhythm and tempo into place along with Jones’s drum taps.  The guitar leans into the blues during this presentation.   His arrangement is quite interesting and captivates my ears with various possibilities, genre-mixing, natural as sweet cream and eggs into cake mix. They bake this tune, letting Jones use his drums like a beater mixing the batter before pouring it into our ears.  They bake it at a high temperature. I had to play this one twice. One taste was not enough.

“Shvee’s Leaves” is a shuffle-along tune with DeLorenzo enjoys using a slide technique on various notes, whining his way along a melodic path that twists and teases. At one point the guitar becomes a rhythm instrument and the bass player steps into the spotlight to offer his own sweet solo during this medium tempo selection.

This is an interesting trio, led by the guitar and compositions of Daniel DeLorenzo.  On “Going Nowhere Fast” they employ lots of reverb on the instrumentation at the top of the tune.  Then they break into a punchy melody that sounds a bit Middle Eastern, while also reminding me of music I heard in Spain. All it needs is maracas and the tapping of dancing shoes to whisk me away to Madrid.  This song stands out and remains memorable

A composition called “I’ma Need it” is another original that could cross genres. It’s rooted in the blues but could easily be a rock tune or an R&B hit record. This song is begging for lyrics.

All in all, the original music of Daniel DeLorenzo is both provocative and entertaining. His solid compositions are well written, with his guitar trio delivering them with contemporary jazz arrangements.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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