Phil Lentz – I Remember The Early Days (2024)
Following a career as a novelist, speechwriter and journalist, singer-songwriter Phil Lentz left pure text behind adding sounds to his moving words. Lentz performs as a jazz pianist in New York City, but his compositions delve further into the realms of pop, folk, indie-folk and jazz. Sauntering along an eclectic wash of music, the US-based Lentz offers audiences a sense of comfort, warmth and happiness in his laidback tunes; however, while there is solace in his music, profound depth lies within. Come with us as we delve into his moving single, ‘I Remember The Early Days’.
Taken off his 2024 album, Phil Lentz Presents… Vol II, ‘I Remember The Early Days’ is, for me at least, a drag back to the ballads of the 1940s. Sentimental and sincere, tinged with sonic embraces and large doe-like eyes, songs like Billie Holiday’s ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ steal your heart, and ‘I Remember The Early Days’ is as sensational.
Produced by Dennis Harte, Kostadin Kamcev and Tom Hutten, ‘I Remember The Early Days’ blends elements of jazz, big band and soul in the composition. Interestingly, just as each instrument from Wolfgang Lugomarsini’s bass to Bob Cohen’s violin softly demands attention, the overall blend of instruments is a soothing, harmonic symphony. Phil Lentz’s piano drives the track, with Dennis Harte’s smooth guitar and Dave Young’s drums beating alongside. In a gentle calmness, you enjoy the flow of ‘I Remember The Early Days’; however, Cohen’s strings and Richard Philbin’s alto sax offer slight haunting, melancholy and vulnerability.
Melodically, ‘I Remember The Early Days’ is an exquisite rush of joy and tragedy, particularly with Red Heller’s powerful vocals giving you goosebumps, but it is the lyricism that adds weightiness to the track. With clarity, Heller weaves emotional depth into the sensitive arrangement drawing out a yearning for yesteryear, reminiscing of days gone by, and a desire to cling to those happier memories.
In addition to the single, Phil Lentz released a music video for ‘I Remember The Early Days’. You can view the video below or on his YouTube channel.
Find out more about Phil Lentz on his Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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