Every Road Led Here Review 2023
Brian Kane is a rather busy (over 300 gigs a year) multi-talented individual based in New England. He sings in a friendly voice a bit reminiscent of the male jazz singers of the 1950s, plays cool-toned tenor and flute, and is a skilled composer and lyricist. A lover of the Great American Songbook, he writes originals in the vintage style and sometimes adds new lyrics to older classics. When Kane improvises vocally, he utilizes words and spontaneous poetry rather than scatting syllables.
It is surprising that Every Road Led Here is his first solo recording for Kane is already a mature and fully-formed artist with a musical personality of his own. The album, which has six of his originals plus three songs from the 1920s, features Kane in a quintet with pianist Ben Cooke, guitarist John Wilson, bassist Bob Niekse, and drummer James Lattini. Scattered throughout the set are many excellent tenor, piano and guitar solos.
Every Road Led Here begins with “After You’ve Gone.” Brian Kane not only contributes the vocal and a statement on tenor but for a chorus sings his own new words to the late 1920s song. “Every Road Led Here” has his philosophical lyrics that conclude that all of his past decisions led to where he is today. Much lighter in mood is “Swinging At The Inn,” a celebration of the joy of music during which he sings that “music is my medicine” and concludes by riffing vocally like a horn.
“Finer Than Few” is a love story with a Latin groove and a little bit of Kane’s flute. “Stockholm In July” is a happy and optimistic song while “The Little Things” is about appreciating life and one’s partner. “It Had To Be You” is revived with the feel of a bossa-nova, an excellent tenor solo and Kane’s own lyrics for a chorus which adds to the story. During the romantic if bittersweet “Forget Me Not,” the singer asks his former love to think of him once in a while since he still thinks of her with affection. Every Road Led Here concludes with a cooking version of “Ain’t We Got Fun” which gives one a final opportunity to hear Brian Kane’s singing and tenor playing.
The enjoyable Every Road Led Here is easily recommended. Brian Kane’s musical talents deserve to be discovered far beyond New England.
Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian