Coleman Mellett

Sing You a Brand New Song

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Guitarist and smooth crooning vocalist Coleman Mellett’s “Sing You a Brand New Song “ is a digital only posthumous release.  The amazing list of musicians that appear on this record is quite impressive from Chuck Mangione to Larry Goldings, James Taylor, Will Lee, Barry Miles, and Steve Gadd, to name just a few of them.  The album is an unexpected jewel, coming out sixteen years after Mellett’s passing. While you’ll hear or may have heard Mellett’s guitar chops as a core member of Mangione’s band, this presents Mellett’s singer-songwriter side which heretofore was unexposed. As is too often the tragic fate for musicians, Mellett died in a plane crash, his on the way to a performance with Mangione and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

It turns out that Mellett had recorded dozens of songs in his home studio, rooted in jazz but drawing from folk and pop as Mellet had a special appreciation for James Taylor, Michael Franks, and Paul Simon. Following Mellett’s sudden and unexpected loss, his wife, vocalist Jeanie Bryson, and Mellett’s close friend, keyboard virtuoso Barry Miles committed themselves to finishing the album as a tribute to his legacy. They, along with engineer Ron DiCesare, sifted through hundreds of unfinished demos, choosing the dozen that made it to the finish line., eleven originals and an instrumental cover of Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.”  Miles selected the musicians that Mellett had loved, thus you find Taylor and members of his band such as Lee and Gadd. Mangione was clearly a no brainer. Mellet plays guitar, keyboards, and vocals on this album of both vocal and instrumental tracks. We’ll acknowledge other players as we proceed.

The snappy “Everymornin’” will put a bounce in your step, as it reveals Mellett’s ability to mash up jazz with ‘70s singer-songwriter styles. Michael Frank seems to be the inspiration for this one with its crisp beats and Larry Goldings terrific organ underpinning Mellett’s clean, jazzy licks along with guest guitarist James Scholfield.. Goldings kicks off the upbeat, optimistic “Life Goes On” with Gadd and Lee, who also appear on the opener, crafting those syncopated grooves over which Mellet’s guitar glides like a skilled figure skater.  The James Taylor styled “Rainy Days” has Mellet handling all the accompaniment save drummer Terry Silverlight as he layers his own vocals. The mellow “Honeykiss” thrives with Natascha Roth and Jeannie Bryson on vocal harmonies, Miles tinkling the piano keys with great effect and not the least bit intrusively as they frame both Mellett’s vocal and brief guitar break.

Mangione’s flugelhorn, set back in the mix on the opener,  is prominently throughout the upbeat, mid tempo ballad, “Morning Line,” imbued also by Miles’ steady comping.  The comforting “Oh Kayo” has Mellet on keys (along with Miles) with Gadd’s time keeping and Cliff Schmidt on acoustic bass.  Mellet has a knack for these snappy, Steely Dan-like tunes, with guitar, vibraphone, and keys ringing through “Digibob.”  Mellett sails forth with relatively spare accompaniment on the endearing love song “What You Are to Me,” raising the ante in a duet with his wife on the intimate “You Get Me Too.” He follows with another song for his wife, “Come On Home” with James Taylor adding acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies, making this trio of love songs the strongest three song sequence on the record. With a clever sleight of hand programming, Mellet’s  sweetly melodic guitar instrumental take on Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” follows. I’ve also thought that song was on the bluesy side but Mellet doesn’t render it that way, focusing on its flowing lyricism instead. Closer “Island Home” is in some respects a bookend, as it evokes Michael Franks, though with Miles chiming in harmonica, the song has a different, though still smiley feel than the others.

“Sing You a Brand New Song” is exceptionally produced and engineered to the extent that I’ve rarely heard a digital stream with so much clarity. It’s a shame that Mellett was taken too soon. His music is ‘ear candy,’ a mood lifter that beckons for repeat listening.

– Jim Hynes

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