JL Stiles
Land of the Plenty
© 2003 Jonathan Levy AKA JL Stiles (837101073363)
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JL Stiles draws much of his brilliant guitar technique and raw honesty from the blues and ragtime greats yet creates infectious melodic tunes best described as pop-roots.
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JL Stiles draws much of his brilliant guitar technique and raw honesty from the blues and ragtime greats yet creates infectious melodic tunes best described as pop-roots. A charismatic and mesmerizing performer, Stiles' vocal timbre and sparkling finger style guitar set him apart.
Stiles' third CD, "Land Of The Plenty," contains fourteen diverse songs including thirteen originals displaying Stiles' wide writing range. Like his previous release, "Solo Sessions" (Shoeless 2002), this new record includes a few memorable solo folk songs, but Stiles deftly includes lots of rockin' electric cuts tinged with R&B and funk plus the down home sound of his trio featuring steady bandmates Zach Morris (drums) and Ed Ivey (tuba, bass). One of his show stoppers is his staggering two-handed guitar technique on "Meteors" which expands on the harmonic drumming he employs in "Continuum," a gem off Stiles' first release, "Sanctuary" (Shoeless '99).
Stiles' history is quite unlikely for such a gifted musical craftsman. Raised in Connecticut, he didn't pick up guitar until he was eighteen. He moved to New Orleans in 1991 to earn a masters degree in math but received more of an education in music there, playing local clubs and developing his distinctive style. Stiles moved out to San Francisco in the mid-1990s and has deservingly become a standout performer, frequently appearing both as a solo act and with his band all over the West Coast and on tour in Brasil, Mexico, and Europe.
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Solid and soulful
author: Andrew LI wasn't surprised to like the more soulful/folky parts of this album: Just One Day and Five Years are reminiscent of Nick Drake, but not as whiny and pathetic. Most impressively, tho, Stiles overcame my ambivalence about the blues with My Part and His Wife. Meteors shows range and Back Door Man is the best evidence that this cat can jam. Hope to hear more soon...
New star. Perfect mix of blues, folk and a touch of soul.
author: N L ChembridgeJL is a new star with his own unique light. The perfect mix of blues, folk and a touch of soul. Brings together the sounds of New Orleans, Memphis and his own deep personal roots. The music is fun to listen to and makes you want to keep hitting the repeat button.
just amazing!!!!
author: David Callejon(spain)what a beautiful album, the voice is so particular and pleasent, and what a great guitar playing,the sounds... everything in this album is special, and diferent, you really can feel there is a great artist behind this,I really recomend this to all music lovers.