Talented New York City-based jazz composer and pianist, Phil Lentz, is back with a breathtaking follow-up to his 2022 debut, “Phil Lentz Presents…”. His new album, “Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II”, offers an extraordinary journey through jazz, pop, classical, and folk influences. Available on CD and across major streaming platforms, this album showcases Phil Lentz’s artistic growth, demonstrating how effortlessly he transcends the traditional boundaries of jazz to craft a sound that is as innovative as it is timeless.
From the very first notes, “Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II” delivers a listening experience filled with warmth, emotion, and complexity. Lentz’s vision for this album was clear: to blend genres and create music that captures fleeting moments of peace and joy. This vision comes to life through lush arrangements featuring alto saxophones, violins, and rich vocal textures that add depth and vibrancy to the compositions.
Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II Album Review:
A Stellar Ensemble
The album owes much of its brilliance to the exceptional musicians who bring Phil Lentz’s compositions to life. Guitarist Dennis Harte, bassist Wolfgang Lugomarsini, drummer Dave Young, and alto saxophonist Richard Philbin form the core of this talented ensemble. Red Heller stands out with their multifaceted contributions, providing not only alto saxophone but also rich vocal performances and evocative whistling. Bob Cohen’s violin adds an extra layer of dynamism, while Dennis Harte’s role as producer ensures that each track is expertly crafted. Recorded at Studio Mozart in New Jersey and mastered by Tom Hutten at Bionic Mastering, the album radiates high production quality.
Pushing the Boundaries of Jazz
Phil Lentz approaches “Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II” with a spirit of innovation, blending elements of jazz, folk, and classical to craft compositions that feel expansive yet intimate. This genre-defying approach showcases his ability to explore new musical textures and emotional depths, inviting listeners on a journey that is as reflective as it is uplifting.
“This time, I wanted to step beyond the boundaries of traditional jazz,” Lentz explains. “Drawing in elements of folk and classical felt natural, adding layers of texture and depth to the compositions. Each track aims to capture those fleeting moments of peace and joy we all seek.”
Track-by-Track Review
The 11-track album starts off with the song “Bebopping Along” which perfectly explains the track, inviting listeners into Lentz’a contemporary jazz world. Each instrument has its own time to shine and really manages to whisk the listener away right as the bass kicks in. “I Remember the Early Days” follows next, a simple nostalgic jazz ballad that takes us back to another time and another place while female vocals connect with the audience. Soulful and reminiscent, this track weaves a journey through piano chords, strong vocals, and a deep powerful bass that exemplifies the jazz sound throughout.
The third track is “The Circus” which showcases a piano-led jazz arrangement that seems typical but soon adds a ’20s nostalgic rhythm that effortlessly makes listeners feel like they’ve heard it before. This is then followed up by “Play Your Melody” which brings a narrative pop-ballad twist with Red Heller providing lyrical vocals that take listeners on a visionary journey. With jazz and classical embellishments, this track shines on the album as we feel the dark pop storytelling intensify, every second. Bob Cohen adds hypnotic violin chords while we hear about a fiddler who is busking outside theatre shows. The track feels like it was inspired by Cher’s “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”.
“December Song” is next, adding a rich jazz flavour to the classical piano chords as Richard Philbin jumps in with the alto sax, taking the spotlight during the mid-section while wrapping brilliantly around Phil Lentz’s expert piano playing. Next up is “One Little Drop of Justice”, where Red Heller is back with a brand new story, and this time they’re teaching us some powerful history! Whisking us away to 1898 when a black man was accused of an attack on a white woman, they give us a history lesson about the lynching of John Henry James. The song ends with one important and influential statement of how far we’ve come but racial violence continues including George Floyd and that we must do better.
Track number seven is “Honky-Tonk Blues”, bringing a more spirited jazz-infusion which is certainly needed after “One Little Drop of Justice” which we’re still reeling from its poignancy. Drums, piano, and guitar combine together for this jovial number that adds spice to the album as a whole. Following on from that is “Chimes” which sees Phil Lentz team up with Bob Cohen for a sombre and hypnotic number that shows a rhythmic control and has a classical charm about it.
This is followed by “Blues À La Carte”, which brings back the rhythm from “Honky-Tonk Blues”, almost giving us a different take on that track, switching it up slightly, and adding new chords and sections; noticeably, Red Heller is credited for this track, whereas “Honky-Tonk Blues” is only credited as Phil Lentz and Dennis Harte, almost as if Red Heller put a unique and different spin on the track, creating something completely new, yet still similar. Track nine is “Prairie March”, a tuneful, uplifting melody that has its twists and turns, surprising listeners and holding their attention. This wraps up into the last and shortest track, “Coda”, another sombre track that has a similar vibe as “Silent Night”, delivering a gentle wintery jazz ballad.
A Testament to Growth
With “Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II”, Phil Lentz proves himself as a visionary in contemporary music, blending genres to craft a sonic narrative that is both innovative and deeply emotive. From the uplifting rhythms of “Bebopping Along” to the haunting poignancy of “One Little Drop of Justice”, and the nostalgic warmth of “Coda”, the album showcases Lentz’s exceptional talent for storytelling through sound. Each track offers a unique journey, inviting listeners into a world where jazz, pop, and classical intertwine seamlessly. For fans of music that resonates with heart and imagination, this album is an unmissable masterpiece.
“Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II”, by Phil Lentz, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms. We also highly recommend you check out his debut album, which was released last year and has gained over 100,000 streams on Spotify, alone.