SCOTT CHASOLEN: Solitude Speaks

Scott Chasolen

Solitude Speaks

© 2003 Scott Chasolen (783707636924)

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This album contains a dazzling blend of rock, folk, and jazz revolving around introspective lyrics and heartfelt vocals, narrating passionate and emotional tales of life's ups and downs.

tracks

1 On and On
2 You Knew You Would
3 Footsteps
4 Back Again
5 Just the Same
6 The Lift
7 Things Between
8 Harmony
9 A Line Through Time
10 So Many Roads
11 Solitude Speaks

notes

Who is Scott Chasolen? Some may know him as the dynamic singer/songwriter from North Jersey, or the eccentric keyboardist of the improvisational groove band ulu. Others may know him as the jazz piano graduate from New School University in Manhattan, or as the friendly neighborhood music teacher. However, the true essence of Scott is a combination of all of these roles.

Through touring nationally with ulu for the past six years, Scott has clearly found found his place within the instrumental funk scene. The use of vintage keyboards such as the Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, clavinet and Moog synthesizer have helped to shape his distinctive sound onstage and on all three ulu recordings. Even after the band's rising momentum and sharing the stage with John Scofield, De La Soul, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Mickey Hart, there was a part of Scott Chasolen that remained unseen.

This secret is finally revealed on "Solitude Speaks", his debut album and first step into singer/songwriter territory. "Solitude Speaks" is a dazzling blend of folk, rock and jazz revolving around introspective lyrics and heartfelt vocals, narrating passionate and emotional tales of life's ups and downs. This album is the missing piece in the puzzle of Scott Chasolen.

Regardless of whether he's playing jazz, singing pop songs, or teaching Bach, Scott's undeniable desire to share music shines brightly. Authentic creativity and relentless determination form the solid foundation of Scott Chasolen's success. On top of that he can build just about anything.

reviews

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  • author: scott m

    good cd, packed well, fast service, thanks

  • A songwriter in new clothes
    author: Ed Kamenitzer

    This album has the ability to make you want to make love and to cry. It reaches into a soul with the utter most honesty and clarity. Like a beam of sun light that pears through the window, 'the warm spot'. This is the cd thats always on top of rotation in my car. From "You Knew You Would" to "Harmony", you get to indugle into purity, truth, and one of the most beautiful records of the decade. It's a must have!!! Scott Chasolen is someone you should get to know better...

  • Great First Solo Album, GET IT NOW!
    author: Jackson Konwinski

    This first solo offering from Scott Chasolen is abosolutely exquisite. It's got a great mix of funky grooves, some rock I can't really classify, and then some beautiful "Scott & His Piano". If you're looking for stright up funky stuff that Scott plays with ulu, you won't find it here. What you can find though, is some of the truest music I've ever found. Unlike most new releases these days, this album really comes from the heart of the artist. It is not over-commercialized BS in any form. 'On and On'- This ties for the funkiest piece of the album. It's a great crossover between the funk stylings of ulu and Scott's emotional poetry of the rest of the album. Nothing too outstanding about this song (don't get me wrong, it's still good), but it's more of an intro song that'll put you into some heavy groovage. 'You Knew You Would'- This song starts off with a nice mellow piano intro then transitions into a straight ahead rock. As it progresses, the song keeps building in intensity until it reaches a finale around 4 minutes and then returns to the piano and vocals that started the song. This is one of my favorite songs from the album. The finale really gets you going thanks to B3 churning out the chords and Katie Pfaffl taking care of the backgrounds. 'Footsteps'- This song, unlike the first two, is of a much darker tone. The instrumentation is much more sparse thorugh much of the song, helping to set a calmer mood. As I sit here and listen, I can envision hearing my own footsteps, plodding down a dark street, lonely and downtrodden. Despite the more depressing tone, 'Footsteps' is still groov-a-licious. 'Back Again'- This is sort of an ispirational waltz. This one will have you conducting in your car as you speed down the freeway. Like 'You Knew You Would', 'Back Again' builds into a rockin' finale with some great moog stuff by Scott. 'Just the Same'- More good stuff. This song features some nice organ, guitar, and some densely voiced harmonies. This song is kinda nondescript next to the rest of album, kinda...just the same. This should not though, lead you to belive it's bad. While it's still a good tune, it just doesn't stand out among the rest. 'The Life'- The first song I heard from this album. This song is strong on the Rhodes (which I like) and vintage sounds. You could have found this song wandering around in the 70's and it would have been pretty normal. Katie Pfaffl helps set the mood in the first half of the song. Speaking of that, like many of Scott's songs on this album, 'The Lift' is a song with two personalities: a mellow first half that evolves into a harder, more driving rock to take you to the finale. As with the other songs, I love this song. It's the first one I heard, and still one of my favorites. 'Things Between'- Easily the most unique song on the album. This one ends up on the favorites too. It's kinda short in comparison to the rest, but it's packed so full of musical goodness that it fits right in. Right off the bat the flute carrying the melody with the piano gives a light and happy feel (unlike 'Footsteps') and makes you bounce along with it's happy melody. Scott's arpegiated fills and tight harmonies with Katie and himself really get your groovin' on the second time around. The harmonies are so dense and jazzy that you just sit there and contemplate just how much they kick ass. I simply love this song for how different it is and how much work went into getting the harmonies just right. 'Harmony'- Another great duet-ish piece with Katie Pfaffl. This one starts with yet another great piano intro and builds to another rockin' finale. This piece is quite happy and inspirational. You'll just feel better after listening. 'A Line Through Time'- Pure. Instrumental. Groove. 'So Many Roads'- A good, high energy piece that rocks from the beginning. It provides a really good contrast to the last track that follows it. Another good cruisin' song. 'Solitude Speaks'- The title track, and worthy of it. This is the truest song on the whole album. It's mostly Scott with his piano, and he lets it all out. I listened to this song when I was really pissed one night, and just let it take the anger out. If you have a good stereo system somewhere, I'd recommend putting it on there so you can sit back and really get into the music. If you're listening from a careless point of view, you may not appreciate all the goodness this song has to offer. This song ends the album very nicely, very emotionally, and creates a beautiful closing to an exceptional album. This truly is a great album. Scott plays and sings with the intensity of Ben Folds and the emotion of Peter Gabriel and Diana Krall (yeah, I know she's a woman, but still she's awesome). This album brings me nothing but pure enjoyment and as I listen more, I start to hear little musical nuances that make me smile. If you want an album that comes straight from the Artist's heart, 'Solitude Speaks' is a must-buy. You'll not regret hearing this gem. I'd love to write more, and perhaps I will someday, but it's late, I'm tired, and I think you get the idea of how good Scott's first solo album is. Happy Listening. Cheers, Jackson

  • Awesome! This was a great insite of the vast talents of Scott Chasolen
    author: Nick Bosso

    Great solo perspectiveof his personal styles and influences. Very different from Ulu's acid jazz, but looking back you can here Scott's progressional stylings coming out in Ulu's jams. I have personal put a link on my AIM profile to the phrase "BUY THIS CD". Signed, Good music appreciator.

  • author: lara

    I think that this cd is very easy listening....but it's kinda cool

  • First and last tunes still in my head; funky/melodic.
    author: Chris Torpey

    Well balanced blend of funky, jazzy songs and melodic interludes. The variety of keyboards used compliment the stylistic guitar work and the drumming devices keep the album bumping along. If you like two-part harmony you've got it here, too. Overall, a rather subdued hour of music for the foreground or the quiet party.

  • author: james

    The CD is a great first CD and is as one reviewer put it a very far cry from ulu....I like solitude speaks and the songs are heart felt and move me emotionally, but I can't help but think Ulu is scott's true calling

  • The Other Side of the Coin for Chasolen
    author: Groove Traffic Control

    ulu keyboardist Scott Chasolen serves up an introspective collection of original compositions on his debut solo album - although a far stretch from ulu, Solitude drapes the listener with a dozen lyrically-driven, ivory-coated tunes.

  • Scott's first effort at an album sets a high standard for albums to come!
    author: Tommy Aldridge

    His first effort makes you wanna catch Scott and stuff him into your boombox to play for you all day and all night! The songs are instrumentally composed amazingly. When you think a sax would sound oh so great in the mix, there it is! When you just want Scott on the acoustic piano licking the keys with his melodies and harmonies, well there he is!! As for lyrical content... man! The emotions Scott brings one through are amazing. The entire cd goes from being at the pinacle of groove to the song you play when times are tough. Thanks Scott!

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