Acclaimed
Guitarist and JUNO Award Nominee KEVIN BREIT to Release New Stella Bella
Strada Album on
May 31 from Stony Plain Records
May 31 from Stony Plain Records
TORONTO, ON -- Stony Plain Records is proud to announce the release of acclaimed guitarist and performer Kevin Breit’s Stella Bella Strada, his second solo album for the label, to be available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and all digital retailers on May 31. Retail CD sales commence June 7.
Produced,
engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin, himself, Stella Bella Strada marks his fourth
release on Canada’s leading folk/roots label, Stony Plain Records (he also
recorded two albums with fellow guitar whiz, Harry Manx). “Kevin Breit is one
of the most creative and imaginative musician I've ever worked with,” says
Holger Petersen, founder and president of the label. “What he brings is far
beyond incredible guitar playing. He is a master arranger, composer and soulful
visionary, whose tones and phrasing color his music with sophisticated,
timeless concepts and good humor. To my ears, Kevin's music includes
blues-based slide guitar playing with a heavy dose of Frank Zappa's
compositional influence. But Kevin is his own man - there's no one like him!”
Breit
has also worked as a touring guitarist and session musician with many greats,
including Cassandra Wilson, Norah Jones, k.d.lang, Michael Kaeshammer, Celine
Dion, Marc Jordan, Molly Johnson, Holly Cole, Rosanne Cash, Serena Ryder and
the Rankins.
Breit
has been honored with several awards, including a Maple Blues Award, Gemini
Award, National Jazz Award, Canadian Folk Music Award and two Juno Awards for
his own recordings; and he has performed on other recordings that have earned a
total of 10 Grammy Awards.
His last solo album, Johnny Goldtooth and The Chevy Casanovas, was nominated for instrumental album of the year at the 2019 Juno Awards.
His last solo album, Johnny Goldtooth and The Chevy Casanovas, was nominated for instrumental album of the year at the 2019 Juno Awards.
“Stella
Bella Strada loosely translates to ‘beautiful star of the road’ and is
aptly named for a new guitar built by master luthier and grand friend, Joseph
Yanuziello,” says Kevin on the album title. “Did I want a one-of-a-kind
instrument that could offer a fiery tone and is capable of fitting in many
genres? Yes. Did I want an instrument that was lightweight and didn’t require a
chiropractor after every show? Yes. Did I want Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia
Loren peeking out from under the Mojo pickup grills? Yes. Did I want it to
light up when it was in high gear? Yes. Did I want my initials on the tone and
volume controls? Why not? So, this is where the road trip starts.”
Breit’s
riveting album isn’t just a one-person project, even though he’s always at the
helm. The release is enhanced by his staple of band members and special guests.
“Andy McNeill, a longtime friend, supplied me with some all-time groovy
Chamberlin and Optigan drum loops, which, in themselves, ooze so much character
and vibe,” he says. “My fellow travelers would include the quartet I have been
a member of for the better part of a quarter century, the Sisters Euclid - Ian
DeSouza, Mark Lalama and Gary Taylor. Riding shotgun is drummer, Davide
DiRenzo, another longtime friend. My brother Gary was also a big part of the
ride, sitting behind the Wurlitzer and AceTone organ to provide that Las Vegas
strip feel. The horn section consisted of the ever-fantastic, Rebecca Hennessy,
Perry White, Tom Richards and Vincent Henry. William Lamoureux, a young
Quebec-born violinist, weaves throughout the recording with much taste and
musicality. There are two busloads of my musical friends playing and singing on
Stella Bella Strada and it brought me great joy to have them all
aboard.”
Breit adds, “On this
recording, I wore several hats: producer, engineer, mixing and mastering. What
I know of these things is somewhat laughable, but I loved every crazy second of
it. I hope when you listen to Stella Bella Strada, at the very
least, you will hear me smiling.”
