Life Imitates Art

Album Review

Vocalist/guitarist Steve Glotzer is one of a large contingent of musicians who have been on the scene for years, but for one reason or another, never had the opportunity to record as a leader. For the last 20 years, Glotzer has been in clubs, at festivals, and other gigs with the likes of jazz menLarry Coryell and David Grisman, blues guitarist Son Seals, and contemporary folk performer David Wilcox. Some of each of these has rubbed off on Glotzer as he indulges in all of them on this his CD debut. The play list is eclectic both in styles and instrumentation. "Tucson," which he sings, recalls the folk songs of the 1960s, as well as Mose Allison. Glotzer accompanies his vocals on acoustic guitar, with Teele's percussion laying down a steady, quick-time beat. One of the more engaging cuts is a blues ballad, "A Taste of Blue," with Glotzer's electric guitar nicely harmonizing with Rick Weingarten's vibes before a musing trumpet by Brad Upton joins in. A Latin beat underlies Glotzer's recitation of Tom Waits' "Diamonds on My Windshield," a classic tune about a traveling man who doesn't seem to stay very long in one place. A nice touch is Upton's muted playing in and around the melody line. Another good track is an additional Latin-derived tune, "Beso Azul," with close cooperation between guitarist and percussionist, this time Don Newby. "Body and Soul" is dispensed within barely more than two minutes. Apparently Glotzer felt for his first CD he needed one standard to establish credentials. And establish them he does, many times over, with an album of multi-faceted ear catching, melodic originals. Even though only 40 minutes of the CD space is used, it's still recommended.