SumVoices

2006: EDITOR'S CHOICE WINNERS

The 2006 "Kweevak.com Music Project of the Year Awards" were presented to the Top-50 winners as chosen by the staff and associates of the Kweevak.com website. Almost 150 music projects (CDs/EPs/DVDs) were nominated to be voted on - winners are presented here in alphabetical order:




2006 "Music Project of the Year" Award
Editor's Choice Winner

JL Hannah's SumVoices: Of Autumn & Insight - Kweevak.com

reprinted from seaoftranquility.com

Sum Voices: Of Autumn & Insight


Sum Voices is a collection of musicians and singers throughout the US that have been brought together by the writing of JL Hannah to create a truly amazing work. I am so frustrated that this EP has only 4 songs, because the 23 minutes of music on these 4 tracks shows such promise that this easily could be “record of the year” if it was a full length CD.

If I am reading the bio correctly, there were 18 different people who contributed in some way to this EP. In this way, it has a very Alan Parsons feel to it. Opening track “Autumn Drums” has amazing blended female vocals and a melody that reminds me of Iona. “Dischorus” has a more straight ahead, anthem rock approach. When ever spoken word is used in a song, it runs the risk of sounding campy. Fritz Doddy pulled it off with his dad’s “Wake Up Fritz” and Sum Voices’“Generations” also does. This song has elements of Floyd, Doddy, and Specimen 37, to name a few. It is creative and entertaining and just plain pleasure on the ears. The final song “Ole Friends” has a jazz rhythm running through most of the song and again weaves a perfect closing spell that makes you want to hit the repeat button.

I know I am gushing, but this is just plain good music. Of Autumn & Insight shows amazing promise and the creative bar has been set very high, but I have confidence that when we get a full length release we may have a new band that everyone is talking about. Sum Voices is recommended for fans of melodic, creative prog. This CD does not rock very hard, but it groves with the best of them.

Track Listing
1) Autumn Drums 7:00
2) Dischorus 4:03
3) Generations 6:21
4) Ole Friend 5:24

Added: August 18th 2005
Reviewer: Steve Ambrosius
Score:
Related Link: http://www.sumvoices.com
Hits: 40
Language: english
- Sea Of Tranquility

JL HANNAH'S SUMVOICES – OF AUTUMN & INSIGHT: JL Hannah is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. Sumvoices are musicians including guitarist Peter Kaukonen (tracks 7 & 10) from many states who are part of what JL jokes is "the poor man's Alan Parson's Project". Hannah also describes his album as a "venting of the midlife human condition", alluding to the reflective nature of some of his lyrics. Of Autumn & Insight is a diverse, dynamic CD that draws from the folk, jazz and rock genres. All fourteen tracks and the hidden 'Kingdom Tonight' are colorful. Although Hannah is the lead vocalist, the CD features other talented singers including a number of capable females. The CD opens with 'Autumn Drums (overture)', which begins as a bright instrumental with subtle drum tones melding with spirited guitars parts. Towards the end of the song JL and Linda Couturas confess confusion about where life is going. On track two, Paige Sessa sings and captures the rich textures and tones of 'Passing Time'. Gary Georgett's piano work on the song is gorgeous reminiscent of some of Bruce Hornsby's finest work. 'Dischorus' features JL speaking his discontent over searing guitars and animated keys. 'Sleep Right' is a track heavily influenced by The Doors with Hannah piecing together vivid imagery layered over spacey instrumentation. The song has a good structure with various concepts eventually working their way back to the heavy hook line "let's dive a little little deeper in the fire". 'Kingdom Tonight', about the Heaven's Gate cult, is evocative with haunting lead vocals by Rich Lynch, JL inflecting "forever lost" and John Sheehan's chilling guitars. JL Hannah's Sumvoices is a creative collaboration of diverse musical forces and his songs are innovative and insightful!
• Recommended Tracks: (1,2,3,9,15) [USA/NJ 2005 - web] (2006 Review by Laura Turner Lynch for Kweevak.com) - kweevak.com

Sum Voices: Of Autumn & Insight


It is so important for a CD to start out correctly and from the first vocals and notes of “Autumn Drums (overture)” you know that Of Autumn and Insight is going to be something special. Sarah Wallace has this haunting voice that cuts through the guitar work, even though it is almost a whisper. Combined with JL Hannah’s talk-sing approach and you have one powerhouse opener. All of the instrumentation is subdued, yet stands out like an ornament on a tree. This is how progressive rock was meant to be made, with many themes and ideas woven together to form a whole which is greater then the sum of its parts.

And that in a nutshell is Sum Voices. This is not a band as much as a collection of musicians spread across the country contributing little pieces of vocals and instrumentation that Hannah has formed together to make a cohesive album of. After the stunning opener, Paige Sessa takes the lead on the Iona inspired track “Passing Time” that really is the most accessible, and maybe beautiful of the 14 songs. “Dischorus” is the only song that sounds like a Hannah solo contribution, and suffers because of it. With 18 musicians contributing to this CD, you may wonder why Hannah, who has an average voice, decides to apply his singsong vocals to so many tracks. On first listen that is, but after several listens, you will understand with all the contributions, this is the one thing that holds the album together, the constant thread if you will.

The 4-song demo that I originally heard (see below), took the most accessible of the songs and was absolutely one of the best demo CDs I had ever heard. After listening to the full length CD, I was a bit taken aback. But after really digging in, I have determined that the bizarre turns on Of Autumn and Insight keep the CD from getting stale. When I listen to a song like “SumVoices, Some”, with Linda Couturas’ Fiona Apple-ish blues vocal, I dislike it and love it at the same time. But the one thing is, I keep listening to it. That is the power of some of these songs.

Anytime you mix this many performers into this varied of styles, you are going to hit winners and a few clunkers. “Summer Snow” and “My Own Sunday” are rather ordinary, not bad, but not as creative as the rest. But songs like “Generations”, which will remind you of Fritz Doody, “Letting Go”, the jazz tinged song that has some of the better guitar riffs on the CD, and “Shadows”, another progressive tune with layered vocals which bookends the CD perfectly along with the stunning opener, make this CD one of the bright spots of the new year. Highly recommended to fans of mellower, experimental progressive rock.

Track Listing
1. Autumn Drums
2. Passing Time
3. Dischorus
4. Summer Snow
5. On It’s Own
6. SumVoices, Some
7. Generations
8. My Own SunDay
9. Sleep Right
10. Ode To George
11. One Lost Look
12. Ole Friend
13. Letting Go
14. Shadows

Added: January 14th 2006
Reviewer: Steve Ambrosius
Score:
Related Link: JL Hannah's Sum Voices
Hits: 206
Language: english

- SeaOfTranquility.org

reprinted from seaoftranquility.com

Sum Voices: Of Autumn & Insight


Sum Voices is a collection of musicians and singers throughout the US that have been brought together by the writing of JL Hannah to create a truly amazing work. I am so frustrated that this EP has only 4 songs, because the 23 minutes of music on these 4 tracks shows such promise that this easily could be “record of the year” if it was a full length CD.

If I am reading the bio correctly, there were 18 different people who contributed in some way to this EP. In this way, it has a very Alan Parsons feel to it. Opening track “Autumn Drums” has amazing blended female vocals and a melody that reminds me of Iona. “Dischorus” has a more straight ahead, anthem rock approach. When ever spoken word is used in a song, it runs the risk of sounding campy. Fritz Doddy pulled it off with his dad’s “Wake Up Fritz” and Sum Voices’“Generations” also does. This song has elements of Floyd, Doddy, and Specimen 37, to name a few. It is creative and entertaining and just plain pleasure on the ears. The final song “Ole Friends” has a jazz rhythm running through most of the song and again weaves a perfect closing spell that makes you want to hit the repeat button.

I know I am gushing, but this is just plain good music. Of Autumn & Insight shows amazing promise and the creative bar has been set very high, but I have confidence that when we get a full length release we may have a new band that everyone is talking about. Sum Voices is recommended for fans of melodic, creative prog. This CD does not rock very hard, but it groves with the best of them.

Track Listing
1) Autumn Drums 7:00
2) Dischorus 4:03
3) Generations 6:21
4) Ole Friend 5:24

Added: August 18th 2005
Reviewer: Steve Ambrosius
Score:
Related Link: http://www.sumvoices.com
Hits: 40
Language: english
- Sea Of Tranquility

Strikingly fun and rememberable music that utterly blew me away.
Reviewer: Steve Hollow
This newby brings it on slowly but surely, leaving a lasting impression, and a thirst for more. Thanks to the "friends" who lent incredible talent and energy to make each cut a variety of ever changing moods, sounds and internal experiences. The music elements are memerable and lasting, and the mix artistically creats many enjoyable personal experiences not soon forgotten. Thanks. - cdbaby

Strikingly fun and rememberable music that utterly blew me away.
Reviewer: Steve Hollow
This newby brings it on slowly but surely, leaving a lasting impression, and a thirst for more. Thanks to the "friends" who lent incredible talent and energy to make each cut a variety of ever changing moods, sounds and internal experiences. The music elements are memerable and lasting, and the mix artistically creats many enjoyable personal experiences not soon forgotten. Thanks. - cdbaby