What‘s new on CD from local musicians

July 20, 2005

Andy Six • Choices

When it comes to musical excellence, Andy Six is a consistent sure
thing.
A singer-songwriter from the crossroads of South Boardman, south of
Traverse City, Six is one of the familiar acoustic players in the area,
playing on local patios in the summer and small clubs in the off
season. But, blessed with razor-crisp skills on the guitar, a smoothly
seductive voice and thoughtful songwriting skills, he deserves a much
larger audience.
His latest album, “Choices,” moves Six beyond the country genre he’s
known for to a sound that’s grounded in pop. It’s a good move, and
perhaps even a courageous one: Six has scrubbed the mild country twang
from his vocals to a mere echo, arriving at a smooth pop sound which
comes off as a refreshing progression of his music. As he notes on one
upbeat song on his new CD, he’s “Moving On.”
He’s also been performing with a new Andy Six Band, dazzling the crowd
at the recent National Cherry Festival, where he opened for John Waite.
Players on his album include top flight local musicians Roger Tarczon
on drums; John Greilick, bass and electric guitar; Dale Swords, bass;
Scott Zylstra on steel guitar; Al Jankowski on keyboards; and Karyn Fox
on backup vocals.
The album is in a word, excellent. The music has polished layers of
complexity and a level of songwriting sophistication that flips a
“yeah” switch in the listener’s brain. It’s hard to imagine Six being
able to top himself on what could be his springboard to the national
stage. If ever there was an album of a lifetime and a chance to know
Andy Six, then “Choices” would seem to be the right choice.




Mark Sanders • Island Dreams

Push the play button on the title song of “Island Dreams” and you’re
flooded with sonic images of island life. I heard echoes of Brian
Wilson, Pink Floyd and Ringo Starr in Sanders’ vocals along with a
swimsuit-clad, hand-holding chorus, swaying on a tropical beach. When
you can write music that produces visions like that, you’re knocking
the coconut right out of the tree.
Mark Sanders’ music is immediately likeable and the island theme of his
album, complete with tropical palm trees and an ocean scene on the
cover, seems right in tune with Northern Michigan’s high summer. This
is an album that would be perfect on the boom box at your next beach
party.
“Island Dreams” is the first release of Sanders’ new indie record
label, Dream Time Records, located in his Traverse City home. “The
recording and promotion of original music by local musicians is the
goal of our new label,” he notes.
A veteran of the local music scene, Sanders performs on drums, bass,
guitar, keyboard and vocals. The CD has an additional boost from
Suzanne Weiler on vocals, Al Anderson on sax, and Robert Christian on
keyboards.
At times the island/beach romance theme gets a bit too languid and
sunstruck-dreamy; the wild jungle drum side of island life is MIA. It
would be interesting to hear a remix of some of the songs, upping the
tempo and adding percussion to see their effect on a limbo party.
But who’s complaining? “Island Life” and its Caribbean/South Pacific
sound is a novel concept from a Northern Michigan songwriter and a
great addition to your sunny days at the beach.