 iTunes link
20 Questions
For the cover shoot of his new album, Atlanta singer-songwriter Guyton Maurice
and friends lugged an actual piano out into the wilderness on a bone-chilling
day. Later, when he’s asked if it wouldn’t have been far simpler just to Photoshop
the instrument into the image, the pianist looks genuinely perplexed.
Maurice isn’t someone who often considers sacrificing authenticity in favor
of an easier path.
That same level of purity embodies Maurice’s new collection of songs on his
latest album, “20 Questions.” The ten tunes (and one bonus track) take listeners
on a romantic trek that’s equal parts Tunnel of Love and Love Canal.
The singer uses his four-octave instrument to address more complications of
the heart than Dr Phil can get to in a week.
Throughout “20 Questions,” Maurice uses unbridled honesty, wicked wit, soulfulness
and sexiness to create a complex, satisfying song cycle about loves lost, found,
chipping apart and unexpectedly fusing together.
If you were handed a complimentary CD when you checked out with a new love at
the Wal-Mart of romance the last time you fell in love, this would be the soundtrack.
Frustrating, indifferent uncommunicative lovers are analyzed (along with an
infectious pop hook) in “20 Questions” while “Where the Wild Horses Do” sensuously
conveys a far cozier coupling on a beach.
On “Possibly,” Steven Moore’s Spanish guitar and a breezy bossa nova beat all
but beg for a top down cruise, cranked at full blast. Lyrically lurking beneath
the sunniness, however, is the prickliness of a romance in full bloom.
With the help of Moore, jazz trumpeter Joe Gransden, bassist Neal Starkey, percussionist
Jennifer Lowe, violinist LaTanya Peoples and others, Maurice colorfully adds
to the piano and voice palette he originally established on his 1999 debut recording,
“Fallen Angel.”
“It was important for me to have creative input from musicians I respected,”
Maurice explains. “Still, it was a little embarrassing to articulate to Joe
what I was looking for on ‘Always Always Always.’ Finally, he just looked at
me and asked, ‘Oh, you want me to sex it up?” and I said, “That’s it!’ ”
Like his revealing piano and voice cover of Cher’s “Believe” on “Fallen Angel”
(who knew there was an actual song beating beneath those studio vocal effects?),
Maurice uses his trademark style to interpret a fresh take on U2’s “With or
Without You” for “20 Questions.”
After stripping away the dated 1980s production values and slowing down the
tempo, Maurice discovered the wistfulness and longing buried beneath. “I like
choosing covers that I can put my own style and twist to,” says Maurice. “ ‘With
or Without You’ was originally based on guitars. I was fascinated by the idea
of rebuilding it with a piano and replacing the electric bass with a bowed stand-up
bass. It just puts the song into a different driver’s seat.”
Maurice is cagier when attempting to explain the zany, manic musical merry-go-round
that is “10:22 (P.M.).” “10:22 is a bit of a cartoon in itself. Let’s just say
it was inspired by a very intense love affair that was just as animated as the
song and it affected me deeply,” he hedges. “And yes, some aspects of the song
are quite literal. But I’ll leave the details up to the listener’s imagination!”
Like any engaging game of “20 Questions,” Maurice’s latest recording leaves
listeners with far more tantalizing questions hanging in the air than actually
answered.
Just like love itself.
-(best selling) author anonymous
iTunes link
Fallen Angel
Guyton's debut, "Fallen Angel", is a flowing stream of raw creativity. Using his
melodic piano stylings & four-octave voice, it was recorded in the studio with
live takes. Lyrical & musical content ranges from the introspective to the quirky
comical. If you like Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright & George Michael
you will most likely enjoy “Fallen Angel”.
|
