Bob Hunter

The Songwriter: A southerner relocated to Boston, Bob’s sharp observations tie into a cozy bed of universal experiences, with a passion so powerful it would alarming were it not couched in such an open, honest vibe. Finding the right woman, becoming a father, and dealing with a health crisis drew him to find the heart and voice that had become overshadowed by education as a mechanical engineer/MBA and career pursuits that have positioned him as a successful management consultant to biotech clients. Now the heart leads, and supported by a deeply insightful yet practical mind, has created a set of rich yet succinct musical fusions.

The Singer: Starting with a mid-range voice remarkably similar to that of James Taylor, Bob worked with a voice coach to stretch this resonance into higher registers. He later began to appreciate and to deepen the cutting horsepower available in his lower registers.

The Musician: After playing guitar for over 30 years, Bob was inspired to write by the expanded harmonic palette a songwriting workshop revealed in different combinations of the jazz chords that he already knew. Working with professional musicians, Bob in turn inspired them to deliver the tight, rich accompaniment heard on 8 of the 10 tracks. Two solo acoustic tracks demonstrate his fingerstyle and rhythm prowess, and sprinkled throughout the tracks are his contributions on slide and lead guitar. Highlights include:

1. Dance Watching Over You: Swirling, soft trance-rock verses pull in and out of boss nova choruses in this celebration of a father’s feelings of deep love and delightful joy for his sleeping baby boy. “Like the angels dance, I turn and watch over you”. A powerful bridge freshens the format again, and offers another slant on the timeless request to “remember this dance always”.

2. Raining with the Sun Out: Dobro strumming, mandolin fills, and lush male harmonies deliver this expose of the pain and pleasure flashes inherent in ending a tumultuous relationship. Beyond nailing the analogs to the climatic phenomenon so as to make them obvious, the song cuts into the raw emotion of “I’m not addicted to you”.

3. Answer Me: Starting with the chorus which calls “answer me” and “you say there’s a reason for everything”, the direct, emotive lyrics drive this high energy integration of theme/lyric/music. Complete with answering lead guitar and backing vocals reminiscent of Santana’s Supernatural, the song offers real hope for a way to “have it all”.

4. Come Passion: This fusion of acoustic guitar and djembe percussion calls forth the possible relationship between passion and compassion for a spiritual feeling that is really high and yet very approachable.

5. (I Am) The Center of My Universe: An attitude song smacking of the Stones about growing up, taking responsibility, tapping into pride, and following the heart.