\u201cSundial\u201d is an esoteric record comprising of rock, funk, ska, soulful ballads and afro-pop music. Recorded during the music industry\u2019s \u201cGrand Pause\u201d of 2020, guitarist Carl Verheyen adopted an \u201canything goes\u201d concept and musical variety is the theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe title track \u2018Sundial\u2019 was an attempt to write a healing and uplifting piece of music that makes me feel good every time I hear it,\u201d says Verheyen. Orchestrated with acoustic and electric guitars, piano, organ and backing vocals, the song soars through jazz-rock, prog-rock and even folk-rock tonalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The record immediately takes a left turn with an up tempo instrumental called \u201cKaningie.\u201d Inspired by a record collection of Afro-pop recordings and crossing it with the feel of the Santana classic \u201cSoul Sacrifice,\u201d Carl wrote a wild and relentless melody captured live with 2 drummers in the studio. Hold on tight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI joined the British rock band Supertramp back in 1985 following the release of \u2018Brother Where You Bound,\u2019 an album that featured a long David Gilmour guitar solo on the title track. My job was to perform something comparable on tour, tall shoes to fill. We first met backstage at the Royal Albert Hall during one of our week-long stints there. \u2018Spiral Glide\u2019 is my tribute to Gilmour, a true English gentleman and lifelong inspiration.\u201d
The chemistry of Carl\u2019s touring band (John Mader drums, Jim Cox keyboards and Dave Marotta bass) is deep on \u201cClawhammer Man,\u201d a song that \u201cgrew out of a 2 bar lick played out of a tiny 4 watt amplifier. Inspiration can come from anywhere,\u201d says Carl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walking by a grand piano in a hotel lobby in Alberta, Canada, a 15 year old Verheyen stopped to play the intro to the #1 song of the day, \u201cBridge Over Troubled Water.\u201d Carl recalls, \u201cA few seconds later a familiar voice began singing over my right shoulder. Turning around I realized it was Art Garfunkel himself! Garfunkel is a song about that incredible memory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Rascals were always a favorite band of Verheyen\u2019s and Felix Cavalier one of his favorite singers. On \u201cPeople Got To Be Free,\u201d Carl reinterprets the classic as a very up tempo Ska tune. Guitar pyrotechnics are unavoidable at that tempo, so Carl gets a chance to show off his formidable chops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo Time for a Kiss\u201d is a blues-rock style ballad with a melodic solo that soars like Jeff Beck but is distinctly Verheyen. And Carl says this about \u201cMichelle\u2019s Song,\u201d \u201cDriving home late one night I heard a long forgotten Elton John tune from a 70\u2019s movie soundtrack called \u2018Friends.\u2019 In the spirit of this record, I imagined this beautiful tune with a southern rock meets country feel.\u201d More Allman Bros than \u201cTumbleweed Connection,\u201d Carl\u2019s soulful vocal and guitar work is stellar throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Personnel:<\/strong> To purchase: https:\/\/carlverheyen.com\/store\/#cds<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Piano, Hammond organ & Fender Rhodes:
Jim Cox
Piano and Hammond organ:
Mitchel Foreman
Drums:
Chad Wackerman, John Mader, John Ferraro, Nick D\u2019Virgilio
Bass:
Dave Marotta, Tom Child
Backing vocals:
Craig Copeland, Kat Bowser, Beth Cohen<\/p>\n\n\n\n