NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Red Sea Records) - Awards committees for major music festivals and songwriting contests have been recognizing steadily what the rest of North
America is poised to realize about ARLON BENNETT. With the release of his third album, SUMMER'S VOICE, the New York songsmith confirms he very well may be one of the most gifted unsung artists of our time.
With a voice that goes down like honey and an inherent tunefulness forever on the money, Bennett has begun to subtly construct a sturdy career bolstered by consistent awards and high-ranking notices at the likes of the Kerrville, Folk Alliance and Great Waters folk gatherings, and in the Billboard, Mid-Atlantic and Rose Garden song competitions. Known for engaging live audiences with an aw-shucks charisma while applying his vocal paintbrush to the fabric of American life, the Long Island native illustrates his knack for creating deceptively simple vignettes on disc in much the way Norman Rockwell took to canvas with SUMMER'S VOICE (Red Sea Records).
Bennett's timeless storytelling unquestionably descends from his classic folk-rock era influences, and on SUMMER'S VOICE, the significant impact of Harry Chapin, James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Jim Croce is undeniable.
The title track to SUMMER'S VOICE already has been embraced by Bennett's beloved New York Mets. The team used the song in a recent memorial tribute to legendary announcer Bob Murphy at a packed Shea Stadium. With a new baseball season unfolding, SUMMER'S VOICE places Bennett securely in the on-deck circle.
Baseball aside, Bennett also uses cars (the playfully edgy "Red Light Kiss"; the pop standard throwback "Fender Bender Baby"), civil rights ("Be the Change") and war ("Bandana Man") as memorable settings for his SUMMER'S VOICE narratives. He deftly adorns each one with unyielding melodies and delicate harmonies. This diverse yet highly cohesive collection heralds its eclecticism from the opening track, with the infectious, jazzy swing of "Forgive Me." Similarly, Bennett brings new bounce to Johnny Cash's "Straight A's in Love," the album's lone cover.
Bennett isn't trying to change the world - just his little piece of it. He was greatly rewarded again last year when chosen to appear on the new Music for Life 2006, the Public Domain Foundation's latest CD compilation of compositions dedicated to social and political concerns. The project is piloted by Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary on behalf of worldwide family service organizations.
No matter what Bennett's deepest concerns, he never gets preachy. But don't be deceived by his easygoing style. The challenge of making it all sound so simple is the benchmark of durable songwriting craftsmanship. Indeed, SUMMER'S VOICE establishes ARLON BENNETT as a voice for all seasons.
