A Few Reviews  

Here's a review from Argentina on"D.I.A.L Business"

Rocka Rolla – Argentina           http://www.rockarolla.com.ar/Diciembre2005.htm

(Here's the English translation)

ED Englerth is a veteran guitarist singer and composer from the U.S. With an extensive career of more than 30 years of jazz, blues, and folk as a soloist as well as with his band the ED Englerth Jazz Quartet. “D.I.A.L. Business” is his new work (in solo, as soloist) for which he was joined by bass Don Cheeseman, Saxophone Bob Hartig, and percussion Alan Dunst. In this work they incorporated the aforementioned genres into an improvisational journey where Englerth moves with fluency & dedication blending his vocal and guitar performance. Note that tracks 16 & 17 are untitled blank spots. A work that transcends age, for the connoisseur of the genre or for those who enjoy more relaxed music.

The Ed Englerth Jazz Quartet
Artist:  The Ed Englerth Jazz Quartet 
Label: Blue side Down Studios
Time: 1:12:12

Jazz. Not everything listed under that label (i.e. Kenny G) really fits the bill. The Ed Englerth Jazz Quartet is the real deal.

Jazz should be spontaneous and full of energy.  The Ed Englerth Jazz Quartet is a smooth group. They play a style of jazz infused with blues, peppered with some fuzz rock, and true to the spontaneity of the art form.

This CD was recorded in a live fashion; either at shows, or “live” in rehearsals. You can feel yourself sitting there in the coffeehouse absorbing the sounds of The Ed Englerth Jazz Quartet. It's obvious that they have played together a lot. They flow the way that a jam band should.

There is no sense of repetitiveness throughout these ten songs. The energy ebbs and flows from song to song. There is no stand out song, because they are all equally strong. Their cover of War's “Lowrider” was fun to hear. Seventy-two minutes may sound kind of long for a CD, but when it was over, I was ready for more.

Justin Wright 11/20/2005

http://www.tollbooth.org/2005/reviews/ede.html

D.I.A.L. Business
Artist: Ed Englerth 
Label:  Blue Side Down
Length: 19/70:34

Ed Englerth is one of those artists who make me glad I write for this site.  Because if I didn't, odds are, I would never have heard of Englerth, or his music.   He's one of those guys who makes reviewers crazy, though, because we are driven to categorize the sound of the music.

That said, Englerth can be described as "folk jazz" or "Americana Blues" – picture Bill Mallonee, Bruce Cockburn, and Randy Newman performing together, and you get a small inkling of the variety on D.I.A.L. Business.  Much like previous discs such as Pingo or Little Bit of Me Everywhere, Englerth delivers trademark blues guitar, and vocal stylings that would stand up next to Sonny Landreth or John Prine. 

"Wishing Well" is the standout, with an extended jazz jam session that closes the song.  "Lost on the Way to Morning" is another favorite, while "Angry" contains lyrics we all can identify with.   Englerth is one of the long list of independent/small label artists that deserves much more press than I can give him.

Brian A. Smith
30 December 2005

http://www.tollbooth.org/2006/reviews/engl.html

Live
at the State Grounds Coffee House http://www.tollbooth.org/2003/reviews/englerth.html  
Artist: Ed Englerth
Label: Blue Side Down Recordings
Length: 14/73:53

One part blues, another part Americana, another jazz rock, _Live at the State Fair Grounds Coffee House_ showcases the guitar and vocal abilities of Ed Englerth.  “It’s Never Too Late to Lose” opens the show with the comment “This is a song about misery.”  “Kick a Dog” is a spoken word rant warning those who would add to the troubles of its subject.  “Rapture Snake,” a highlight, is a polemic against televangelists and their ilk - those who would prey on the fears and insecurities of people who don’t have confidence in their relationships with God.

“Spark” is a jam in the mode of Jonny Lang or Billy Wayne Shepherd, reminding us that no matter how bad things get, it is never so bad that our fire gets extinguished:

For every bad time, for every sad life,
Whenever there’s trouble, whenever lightning strikes
 For the cloudy days of rain
When the wind blows like ice
When you’ve been down so long, you can no longer cry
There’s a spark, I know there’s a spark...

“Shall We Stop” shows some Bill Mallonee influence.   “L.O.V.E.” is a jazz piece detailing I Corinthians 13 with a great saxophone background.  “2 to 5,” another instrumental, is in the vein of Steely Dan or Sting’s “Bring on the Night” concert album.

Ed Englerth has the blues, but an appreciation for the interaction of God in human lives.  We as listeners can rejoice in his sorrows, knowing the music produced and the lyrics written reflect our own feelings and moods.  

Little Bit of Me Everywhere is an apt title for this album ­ Ed Englerth is all over the map musically.  Vocally, Englerth ranges from Santana to Shawn Mullins before settling into a Kenny Wayne Shepherd/Jonny Lang style that is understated, while he lets his guitar do the talking.

“Connect” is a Santana meets Steely Dan style number, while “Linear Action” mixes the latter with 80’s new wave.  “Turn on the Water” strives for Dave Matthews Band territory, and ends up closer to Fishbone.  “Ground Swell” is a tune about Christ that sounds like The Doors were reincarnated as a funk band.  

“Guitar Surfing” is just that, an instrumental that combines 50’s blues with Dick Dale-like guitar work.  “Fall of the Wild” is a spoken word jazzy improv about the state of our planet.  The one track that is hard to figure out is “I Want to Connect Free Vacations,” which seems to be a commercial for Calumet Public Hospital.   I imagine this to be an in-joke of sorts.

Musically, Englerth is quite adept with the guitar.  His vocals are not up to the same level, but this does not detract from things overall.  Little Bit of Me Everywhere highlights some good work by another unknown guitarist.

Phantom Tollbooth, Brian A. Smith 8/31/2002

Pingo  http://www.tollbooth.org/2002/reviews/englerth2.html 
Artist: Ed Englerth 
Label: Blue Side Down
Length: 16/57:02

Pingo shows Ed Englerth making choice more suited to his vocal style than on Little Bit of Me Everywhere.  “What Have I Become?” features some excellent guitar work with Englerth’s plaintive vocals.  “Coffee Blues” is well suited to his bluesy, almost growling voice, and is exactly about what you think by the title.

“Angels” is more of a pop-oriented tune, while “Shall We Stop” features mandolin, with Englerth sounding as if he is channeling Merle Haggard.  “One More Chance” resembles Jonny Lang.  

The highlight of the album is “I’ll Break Through,” which could be a lost Kenny Wayne Shepherd single ­ the combination of voice to music here works as well as any song on either of the albums I’ve heard.  “Flashes of Ignorance” contains my favorite line on the album: “The politics of love are fought in the fields…”

Pingo shows the extent of Englerth’s musical range.  Like Neil Young or Jonathan Rundman, he refuses to be pinned down to one particular genre, while having it all still work somehow. Pingo will hold your attention from beginning to end.

Phantom Tollbooth, Brian A. Smith 8/31/2002

If you have a review you'd like to submit, contact us at I wrote a review of your stuff. 

If you'd like to have something reviewed, contact us at the same place I'd like to be reviewed.

                  home