| San Francisco Bay award-winning singer/songwriter Forest Sun has
released his 8th studio album ‘Just Begun’. 12 songs (including
one instrumental number “El Coyote”) all written by Sun offering
an atmospheric mix that instantly makes its mark. Their last European
tour consisted of 3 weeks in the UK during 2010, starting with
the Belladrum festival in Scotland, ending with a performance
at the Pilton Hall in Barstaple, with Edinburgh, Bristol, London,
Brighton, Worth Matravers (Dorset) & Winchester in between.
The tour also included Fiesta City Festival in Verviers in Belgium,
a show in Paris, France and many live appearances on Dutch Radio.
After spending six months in Europe during 2011, setting
up house in Transylvania where his wife and touring partner
Ingrid Serban's family lives. This travelling troubadour returned
to the US launching his tour (Autumn 2011) of the Southwest
culminating in the desert town of Tucson. Here he stayed for
several months writing his songs for ‘Just Begun’ released in
October 2012.
From the opening title track through to the closing “Long
Day” Forest Sun conjures up a kaleidoscope of an emotional landscape
giving a vivid impression of nature and reality through the
assembled strong collection of songs. His long-time touring
partner songbird Ingrid Serban who joins him on back-up vocals
engages the attention! My personal favourite tracks are the
title track “Just Begun”, the plaintive “Nostalgic Bells” featuring
Serban’s wistful vocals creating a unique blending of voices.
“Like Water In The Desert” is a sweetly yearning song of two
hearts that have strayed apart. Once again we have the ideal
blending of voices from Forest and Serban with the addition
of a trumpet solo that gives the full music quality to this
track. With “It’s Good to See You” Forest Sun shows his own
musical skill on piano with just the inclusion of cello from
Michael Santander.
A host of scintillating musicians joined Sun in the studio.
Winston Watson (Bob Dylan, Kenny Kravitz) played drums, Craig
Schumacher (Iron & Wine) contributes organ and harmonica, while
Fen Ikner and Jacob Valenzuela (both from Calexico) handle the
bass and trumpet respectively. Oklahoma based Jared Tyler (Emmylou
Harris) plays mandolin and dobro and Jesse Aycock contributes lap
and peddle steel.
Sun enlivens audiences around the globe with his wealth of
songs and stories, all sung and told with a laid-back California
style. He's opened for Bonnie Raitt, The Beach Boys, Steve Earle,
Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Keb Mo and Brett Dennen among others
and musical collaborations include Jolie Holland, Sean Hayes, ALO
and Hot Buttered Rum. Forest Sun’s music is featured in film and
television, including MTV's Good Vibes. They're hoping to tour
Europe again in 2013.
Check out Forest Sun. Just Begun is slick album that can’t
fail to excite!!!
Graham Lees Nov 2012
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