It only takes a minute into Leon's "My Soul Speaks" (http://www.nealsight.com) to be taken away from the daily stress of life. It's as if Leon's fingers know the magical formula to pick the right chords on his guitar to calm our nerves. This is an record to be treasured but mainly during the night-owl hours, when its moody, emotional states can be most keenly felt.
Dedicated to the memory of his late mother, "My Soul Speaks" is a labor of love, a masterpiece of tone and technical skill; every track is delicately played. You can feel the pulse of life in every jazzy riff.
Guitar instrumentals work best only if they are evocative enough to conjure images in your mind. From the cinematic atmosphere of "Sweet Tomorrow," Leon has us locked in a daze. "Sweet Tomorrow" is the perfect soundtrack to evening city life, its relaxing guitars drifting with the stars.
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"So In Love With You" and "When Love Is Blind" actually feature Leon's vocals, and they provide a lush, hopelessly romantic throwback to classic soul. "Island Summer" offers an upbeat turn for Leon, suitable for its tropical inspirations.
Jazz can often polarize unenlightened listeners, but "My Soul Speaks" has universal appeal.
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