By Jeannie Kezo
01/24/2008
Introducing
Sol Juice:
A
David Landeo Adventure
Plato once said, “Music and rhythm find their way into the secret
places of the soul.” One listen to David Landeo’s new CD, Sol Juice,
proves that this ancient philosophy is still contemporary and very true.
Each song on this compilation has its own unique appeal and style that inspire a
lighthearted feeling and ready smile. On January 12, 2008, listeners had
the opportunity to savor the music from Sol Juice, live, when the
multi-talented Landeo performed for a CD party at The Sports Page in Huntsville.
Billed as acoustic/electric rock, Landeo’s sound reflects the
diverse musical influences that he was exposed to, during childhood. “My
parents played everything from opera, to The Beatles, to Herb Alpert, to Sinatra
on the home stereo,” Landeo said.
Just as each song on this CD has its own memorable
personality, so does each live performance that Landeo shares with his audience.
He believes that “each performance can be its own world.” He calls
them “adventures” and tries to make each one unique, even if the faces in
the audiences are familiar. “I love to adlib with the songs…the stage
banter…the audience interaction…everything. It makes for a comfortable
time for everyone,” he added.
Fans have appreciated this Nashville native’s talent and audience
rapport, over the years, by choosing him in several Tennessee music polls.
In 1992, the WIMZ Rock & Blues Awards named him “Best Bass Player in
Knoxville.” Knoxville’s Metro Pulse Magazine named him “Best
Male Vocalist” on three different occasions, and Knoxville News/Sentinel
readers voted him into the “runner-up” position for “Best Singer” in the
“East Tennessee’s Best” polls, several years in a row.
Landeo has appeared in numerous radio and television productions,
as well as local venues that range from wedding receptions to fraternity
parties. He has opened for or performed with such diverse artists as Jan
& Dean, The Spin Doctors, PaulyShore, and Rick Springfield. Last year,
Landeo played over 280 shows and prides himself on his high-energy
act—“usually with no breaks.”
Landeo’s enthusiasm for entertaining dates back to his pre-school
years, when his parents noticed that he’d started treating the furniture like
a set of drums. Those early experiences led to his first professional gigs
as a drummer for a high school rock band, and he eventually expanded his musical
expertise to include bass, lead guitar, and vocal contributions in various other
bands. He holds a liberal arts degree from the University of Tennessee and
now resides in Knoxville with his wife and twin daughters.
In fact, one of the songs on Sol Juice is an upbeat tune
called “Welcome” that Landeo wrote as a dedication to his twins. Its
happy melody has you swaying in time to the rhythm, making this song one of my
personal favorites.
“Oye Hombre” is a Landeo composition that he sings, entirely,
in Spanish. Sensual. Moving. Rhythmic. This song pulls
you outside of the mundane, beyond all the stress, with riffs and percussion
that have a very distinct Santana flavor. The Latin influence is not
surprising, given Landeo’s Peruvian ancestry. He said he wrote it for
his wife, inspired by an experience with a mariachi group in Tijuana, Mexico.
“And Then There’s You” features a jangly guitar and vocals
that are reminiscent of the Gin Blossoms. Shades of John Denver echo
through the folksy “Colorado Sky,” while a fiery drum solo lights up “Keep
On Runnin.’”
These songs are strong examples of the wide musical influences
evident on Sol Juice; it is difficult to pinpoint any one single artist
or sound in his music. When asked, Landeo credits performers such as R.E.M.,
Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles with shaping his musical identity. He has
recorded five other CD’s, since 1996.
The Sol Juice party was Landeo’s second appearance at The
Sports Page. “The crowd was incredibly receptive. I liked the
atmosphere,” he said.
For more information about David Landeo or Sol Juice, visit
his web site at www.landeo.com or call 1-800-899-6255.