Tangled

In Layman Terms

Independent

The 2015 Bradenton Blues Festival was held on December 5^th. It was produced by Paul Benjamin for Realize Bradenton. The headliners included Mike Zito, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, and Janiva Magness. In between the sets we were introduced to the young duo of Cole and Logan Layman whom are “In Layman Terms”.  One couldn’t help but notice them.

Cole is a senior at Warhill High School in Williamsburg, Va. He plays guitar and his influences include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and Joe Bonamassa. Logan, his younger sister, is a sophomore at Warhill. They have grown up making music together and write their own songs. Their mom Sandy Layman plays drums and began dragging them to open mikes at an early age. Since 2013 Logan has won several Emerging Artist awards and they have been featured in the August 2014 issue of Guitar Player Magazine.

“In Layman Terms” performs as a duo, trio, or band. Their first album was just released on April 8^th and it’s a mature recording with a band consisting of Cole Layman, guitar and cigar box guitar; Logan, bass and vocals; Ron Lowder, Jr., drums; and Brian Kloppenburg, organ. Horns are added on several tracks. The album is produced by Lowder who also owns and operates the Academy of Rock Music in Newport News, Va. where the Laymans have been enrolled.

The Laymans have written five of the nine songs included. The title track “Tangled”, opens the album. Other originals include “Fake It ‘Til I Make It” and “Karma”. Cole’s guitar playing and Logan’s vocals are both outstanding. Both “Don’t Even Try” and “I’m Not Ready” are from Holly Montgomery, a singer-songwriter, from Falls Church Va. Included also are two covers; Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning” and Janis Joplin’s “Move Over”.

There is something about siblings but these two are just remarkable. Look for “In Layman Terms” to receive a BMA nomination next year for Best New Artist Album.  This is a solid debut that will leave you wondering just how good they’ll get. Bob Margolin who knows something about blues talent says “they are great now”.

Richard Ludmerer