On his new CD, "The Same Light", the Juno Award-winner unveils material that ranges from sensitive, finely-crafted songs showcasing his writing skills to soul-drenched blues tunes that will once again satisfy his longest-standing fans. Throughout the CD he displays the high level of virtuosity as a guitarist and vocalist that have long won him the admiration of his peers in the music community.
But more than sheer musicianship and mastery of genres, the force that drives Lester’s music is his desire to continually grow and evolve. As a result, "The Same Light" also features songs capturing some of the newer directions he began exploring in 2008. Technically these tunes are improvised instrumentals performed by a trio, but to hear them is to experience much more than that - they transcend limitations like " jazz" or"folk" or "roots" and create a pulsing expression of his vision of our planet’s fragile yet powerful essence.
The CD ends with Pete Seeger’s "To My Old Brown Earth", performed as an unmistakably heartfelt summing-up of all he stands for today.
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" A great voice plus excellent writing and production - be sure to give this one a listen... "
Rod McCrimmon , Monday Magazine
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" The Same Light is absolutely solid and steeped in old traditions intelligently wrought to come up through to come up through the years without losing a thing .... "
Mark S. Tucker - The Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange
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"The Same Light was beautifully recorded, mixed and mastered in Victoria by Joby Baker.... At the heart of the spare, but brilliantly conceived musical canvas are Quitzau's tender vocals, concise guitar work and smart original songs. His message is love, and he frames his message in a gentle, relaxed blues form. It's a fine heart-felt recording."
Joseph Blake - Times Colonist
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"What a wonderful listen ... beautiful sounds, lovely playing and singing, great compositions and lots and lots of heart! Thank You,"
Doug Cox - Artistic Director, Vancouver Island Musicfest
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" From his early takes on acoustic blues to more open-ended jazz-rock sounds, guitarist Lester Quitzau has covered a lot of musical territory over the years. The memorable part is how he ties it all to an innate, rhythmic pulse and to an atmospheric intensity that shines from a thoughtful state of mind.
Roger Levesque - Edmonton Journal
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"Quitzau's ... soft but subtly textured voice draws the listener in, and whether he's tackling a Lightnin' Hopkins-style blues("Find My Way Home") or a Bill Frisell-flavoured meditation ("Ferris Wheel"), his less-is-more guitar textures are even more eloquent ... very lovely."
Alexander Varty - Georgia Straight
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"Lester Quitzau's music has the rustic appeal of artists such as Van Morrison and Robbie Robertson, and I find myself appreciating The Same Light even more with repeated listens."
Chip Withrow - Muses Muse
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"Best known to me as one third of Tri-Continental(with Bill Bourne and Madagascar Slim). Lester Quitzau's fifth solo album, The Same Light, really opened my ears. Starting off with a simple Dobro-spiced blues track, "In Your Arms Again,"we move to a soul tune, "The Only Cure," penned by Quitzau's wife, Mae Moore. This one channels Van Morrison with brass, or even Al Green - really funky, and featuring the Victoria Brass as backup. Then we get some more great rootsy blues, including 2 instrumentals, and another R&B/Soul track "Let It Shine." This one has some nice thick Hammond organ, provided by Joby Baker (who also produced the CD).
The final selection is a Pete Seeger tune,"To MY Old Brown Earth," one of only 2 tracks not written or co-written by Quitzau. The instrumentation on the album is eclectic, featuring Quitzau on vocals, Dobro, acoustic and electric guitars, and very effective steel pan drum, plus Baker on percussion, electric bass and keyboards and Rick May on acoustic bass. A great voice plus excellent writing and production - be sure to give this one a listen and don't miss the 'secret' final track, a favourite of mine."
- Rod McCrimmon , Monday Magazine
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By Chip Withrow - 03/11/2009
Artist: Lester Quitzau
Album: The Same Light
Genre: Americana, Folk, Acoustic
Sounds Like: Robbie Robertson/The Band, Van Morrison
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9/10
Overall Talent Level: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 8/10
Performance Skill: 9/10
Best Songs: The Only Cure, Let It Shine, Shape Shifter
CD Review: I have been listening to Lester Quitzau¹s fine new album The Same Light for a few weeks now. I have enjoyed it greatly, but until now it has been hard for me to put into words why I like it.
Well, it has finally become clear why I dig Quitzau's music so much. One of my favorite tracks, "The Only Cure," is a one-song showcase for what makes Quitzau so compelling: it is a hippie/soul anthem, fusing bluesy Americana with horns and building to a grand show finale-worthy instrumental conclusion.
"In Your Arms" opens the set with a laid-back yet deep groove. Quitzau himself layers electric guitar and dobro licks atop acoustic strumming. His vocal is unassuming yet heartfelt here and throughout the disc.
"These Blues" and "Find My Way Home" sound like three friends having a comfortable musical conversation. Quitzau's playing toes the line between jazz and blues, and Rick May¹s acoustic bass is slippery. Multi-instrumentalist Joby Baker (bass and keyboards on other tracks, co-producer along with Quitzau) provides the drum backbone.
The lush, pretty soul ballad "Let It Shine" is another favorite. It is uplifiting, lifted even higher by Mae Moore's backing vocal and washes of Baker's Hammond organ. It is followed by the slinky, funky "Shape Shifter," the best of three instrumentals, with Quitzau firing off wicked electric and slide riffs.
Quitzau wrote or co-wrote all songs with the exception of "The Only Cure" and the closer, Pete Seeger's "To My Old Brown Earth." It is a lovely conclusion, built upon Baker's lower-register piano chords. Quitzau adds a meditative vocal and sympathetic slide guitar.
Lester Quitzau's music has the rustic appeal of artists such as Van Morrison and Robbie Robertson, and I find myself appreciating The Same Light even more with repeated listens.
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Scott Harris www.vueweekly.com
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* More posted reviews of Lester Quitzau - The Same Light at (click to view)
http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p05399.htm
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-lesterquitzau-thesamelight.html
http://www.torontobluessociety.com/0903johnspicks.htm