Page 6 June 2019

CD Review: Jeff Kossack & The Otherhand

Float creates magical brand of music

Jeremie Murfin & Geoff Metts

503-676-4198

Jeff Kossac is a special singer- songwriter. And, as the vocalist for his Otherhand Band, they create a brand of music that seems to be perfect for nearly everyone. Call it pop, contemporary rock, soft rock, a new breed of Americana, or any- thing else you may want to label it, the music that is created from these tracks are not only magical but can fit a variety of styles. As a singer-songwriter, Kossac is impressive. As a performer, hes equally as creative. And, as the vocalist for his Otherhand band, the resulting music is a recording project that is so captivating that the songs seem to pull you in with the featured lyrics and accompanying music. On each track of this recording project, over and over again, it demonstrates just how impressive they are together. This is obviously not a fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants band, but one that has this ability to make the music they create spe- cial for the listener. Float features original songs, all written by Kossac. This writer loves not only the sound of each of the featured tracks, but the way the music overtakes you with its inno- vative sound that seems to ignite the creative juices of the listener. Th e Float recording is clearly a major accomplishment for a West Coast recording project. This 11- song CD seems to have everything you would expect in an album. It is pure creativity and talent that runs the musical gauntlet as if you were at a concert or in a club dancing. The songs are not only perfect, they give you a major dose of their music that makes you want to lis- ten to more of the same. This recording project is first- rate and came together on the West Coast, more specifically in California. Float was produced and engineered by Kossack at the Otherhand Recording Studio in Los Angeles and at the DS Drum- Room in Val Verde. It was mixed and mastered by Marc DeSisto in

In May, local business leaders Geoff Metts and Jeremie Murfin of Five Star Guitarsl traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for all children to have access to quality, comprehensive school music education programs. They joined music industry leaders and artists as part of a delegation of music education advocates dur- ing the annual National Associa- tion of Music Merchants (NAMM) Music Education Advocacy D.C. Fly-In, May 20-23, 2019.

The issue takes on special im- portance this year as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), is implemented in states and local school districts under programs and funding available via the fed- eral education law. Metts and Mur- fin met with members of Congress

Duo from Five Star Guitars visits nations

capitol to advocate for music education

and other elected officials to advo- cate for the funding of school mu- sic programs across the nation and to discuss the multitude of benefits music education espouses such as increased brain function, focus and language development. We know firsthand the impor-

tance of a well rounded education and in an era of continued bud- get cuts it is important to speak directly to our public servants to remind them says Metts.

The week of advocacy work be- gan on Monday, May 20 with a Day of Service assisting a local school. On Tuesday, Metts and Murfin par- ticipated in a full day of advocacy training, as well as in developing a state-level advocacy program. On Wednesday, they headed to Capitol Hill for a series of meetings

with members of Congress, their staff and other elected officials and stakeholders in education policy. Five Star Guitars is a locally owned and operated music store that specializes in instruments, lessons and repairs. They have been named one of the Top 100 music stores worldwide by NAMM annually for the past five years. In 2016, Metts, Murfin and their partner Johnpaul Simonet were named the Small Business Per- sons of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. To learn more about the event or for interviews, please contact: Geoff Metts - Star Gui- tars - 503-439-9500 or email GeoffM@FiveStarGuitars.com. About NAMM : The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for- profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry. NAMM is com- prised of approximately 10,400 member companies located in 104 countries. NAMM events and mem- bers fund the NAMM Foundations efforts to promote the pleasures and benefits of music, and advance active participation in music mak- ing across the lifespan. For more information about NAMM, please visit www.namm.org, call 800.767. NAMM (6266) or follow the or- ganization on Facebook, Twit- ter and YouTube.

By Michael P. Jones

Lukes Room Studios, located in Sherman Oaks. Additional produc- tion was provided by Erik Brena. The songs featured on Float have a way of creeping up on you and invading your memories. It is like youve heard these tracks be- fore, but know you have not. Call it the ghost of deja vu or just plain great songwriting. The primary musicians that per- form on this recording project are the members of The Otherhand band. These include the following: Nck Kirgo on acoustic, electric, and slide guitars; Daniel Rhine on stand-up and electric bass; and David Salines on drums. There was a small army of musi- cians who made special appear- ances on this album. In alphabetical order they include: Marty Axelrod on piano and organ; Erik Chapman on cello; Brad Kay on piano; Danny Kay on trumpet; Chase Kossack on drums; Dan Lavery on bass; Mark Nilan on piano; John OKennedy on lap, steel and electric guitar; Damon Ramirez on synthesizer; Mark Romano on electric guitar and backing vocals; Terry Beat Smith on beat production; Gary Stockdell on piano; Ed Tree on electric and slide guitars; Leo Valenzuela on bass; Bruce Watson on electric gui- tar; Chad Watson on trombone; and Jimmy Yessian on harmonica. The backing vocalists included the following eleven singers. Listed in alphabetical order, these were: Olivia Brownlee; Severin Browne; Earle Grey; Vito Gutilla; Liam Lew- is; Chris Rolontz; Mike Rossi; Da- vid Serby; John Stowers; Christian Yancey; and Jimmy Yessian. Kossack acknowledged those musicians and singers who con- tributed to this recording project by writing the following words on the inside of his album: Simply said, making music with friends is the best therapy, or maybe the best way to avoid needing it. Kossack cannot be forgotten for his creative investment in this recording project. Besides writ- ing the 11 songs featured on the Float album, he also sang the lead vocals and played acoustic guitar and synthesizer. These 11 tracks clearly demonstrate the inspiration and creativity of this individual who has immersed his life in music. Funny Thing About Luck opens the recording project and evokes the feeling of stage curtains open- ing, revealing an amazing band with their dynamic vocals and accompa- nying music. This song is imposing in the best sense of the word and unveils just how good they are. Today dramatically illustrates just how good Kossac is as a song- writer and vocalist and how The Otherhand band musically adds so much more to the tract. One could swear that this song is so good that it could have been a popular tune by The Beatles. Float , the title track, is a beautiful song about relationships. Kossac has a way with the written word, and the lyrics of this song seem to illlustrate this best. The track Clockwise is another one of the best on this album. This writer loves the way that the bands music tends to bring the lyrics of the song to the forefront without seemingly trying; rather, just by doing what they do consistently from tune to tune. The Original Sinner is another fa- vorite. This is contemporary rock n roll at its finest. This writer loves the lead guitar work and the dramatic backing of The Otherhand band.

Traditional rock n roll is cap- tured by the song Why You Wan- na Make Me Mad? This writer loves everything about this track. Jeff Kossac & The Otherhand are as musically and lyrically sol- id as it gets. If there is any doubt how good this collection of musi- cans and this songwriter are, just listen to this three-minute and thirty-nine second tune.

I Just Need You is one of the best tracks. This is the perfect song from Kossacs lyrics to the accompany- ing music by The Otherhand band. The song, No Life After You , is a rocking jazzy addition to this album that is still another great accompani- ment to all the other great featured tracks. The piano is outstanding and adds so much to the sound. Waterlogged is perhaps this writers absolute favorite on this recording project. Kossacs voice is hypnotic, which is just the right ingredient needed for thought-pro- voking lyrics; and the haunting-like rock music, that takes this tune into another stratosphere. Then add the haunting sound of the slide gui- tar to the rest of the accompanying music, and you have an addition to this album and youll wish there was no end to this amazing tract. Another song that joins the other great additions of this impressive recording project is Lie, Cheat, And Steal . This southern rock sound, along with the harmonica, makes this an- other one of Kossacs best originals. The absorbing and Countrified If Wed Just Trade Shoes is still another one of Kossacs brilliant songs. The lead guitar goes out of its way to capture the listeners emotions and allows them to easily absorb the lyrics of this amazing track even more. Float is a splendid recording proj- ect that features 39 minutes and 19 seconds of musically rich tracks by Kossac, a Los Angeles-based singer- songwriter who operates his own re- cord company and recording studio, and is also a producer and arranger. With his extraordinary back-up band known as The Otherhand, the music they make is contemporary rock n roll and pop that represents a quality that is hard to match. Jeff Kossac & The Otherhand represents a unique West Coast sound that provides optimum qual- ity for both the lyrics and the fea- tured music. Float is an example of a recording project that more than meets all the marks for reaching the high standards of perfection.