Artist: Kevin Breit
Album: Stella Bella Strada
Label: Stony Plain
Release Date: 5.31.2019
You may think of Canadian great Kevin Breit as a blues guitarist or a versatile guitarist who has backed some huge names, but there’s nothing that he—or anyone else for that matter—has done that will prepare you for this. Perhaps the 53 musicians in the credits and the photographs of his guitar that grace the outer and inside jacket offer some clues. “Stella Bella Strada” is the name of this guitar, translated to “beautiful star of the road,” built by master luthier and friend Joseph Yanuziello. Breit describes it as lightweight, capable of playing many genres, going on to say, “Yes, Did I want Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren peeking out from under the Mojo pickup grills? Yes, Did I want it to light up when it was in high gear? Yes, Did I want my initials on the tone and volume controls? Why not? So, this is where the road trip begins.”
The music is totally undefinable or classifiable. You just need to hear it. For example, melodies from his slide guitar front an 11-piece Mandolin Orchestra on “If You Knew” and a 15-piece choir on “Marcello Loren.” Beyond his composing, arranging and the “two busloads of musical friends” is the creative madness of Breit, who serves as producer, engineer, mixer, and mastering. Breit humbly adds that he’s not adept at any of those last roles, but had immense fun doing them. That joy comes through. Jaw drops occur often. His tone, phrasing and textures, blues-based slide playing have few reference points. Compositionally, label President Holger Peterson points to Frank Zappa as a major influence. That, alone, indicates how imaginative this undertaking is.
While it might seem like a one-person project in some respects, it’s anything but. Breit, who also plays bass clarinet and mandolin, could not possibly produce this magic alone. Trusted friend Andy McNeill provided drum loops and his long-time quartet Sister Euclid – Ian DeSouza (bass), Mark Lalama (accordion, pump organ), and Gary Taylor (percussion). Drummer Davide DiRenzo is another longtime cohort. Kevin’s brother, Gary, is credited with the “Las Vegas strip feel” on the Wurlitzer and organ. There’s a four-piece horn section and a brilliant young violinist from Quebec, William Lamoreux. Beyond that, are the “busloads.”
The mix of ageless and contemporary sounds is totally unique, evoking perhaps pieces of film scores, but virtually nothing else heard on record. Yes, like the hand-crafted guitar, it’s a brilliant piece of music.
—Jim Hynes
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