James B. Dukehouse
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James B. Dukehouse

New York City, New York, United States | SELF

New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Band Rock Blues

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"Leicester Bangs Reviews Traveling Salesman"

This album reminds me of both The Gypsy Kings and Madeline Peyroux in different ways! Even though this (male) singer songwriter is a native New Yorker there is a distinct European jazz feel to his sound. This is a set of mainly acoustic songs, that has a certain je ne sais quoi! All right - they are very French sounding. From the brushes intro of the title opening track, it is a set of songs that seem from a bygone time. The whole package is conveying a certain feel, from the monochrome photos on the C.D. cover to the arrangements themselves. Great finger picking guitar throughout, it is an atmospheric album that deserves repeated playing. (Reviewed by Steve O.) - Leicester Bangs


"Kippenvel – Ruud Heijjer Reviews "All In Good Time""

Classic.

In the ten new songs on his second CD American singer-songwriter Joe Iadanza makes a big step forward.

Much more subdued than on his good debut Traveling Salesman, Iadanza stays much closer to folk than to roots music this time. The total absence of up-tempo songs in favour of ballads is striking, although in his lyrics Iadanza takes a stance just as categorically as on that first one.

From opener Skin And Bones to closing song American Dream he sings about great themes in the directly appealing way of the classic folk heroes: a soldier gets crushed by the war, a man holding two jobs gets crushed by the economic crisis, a son compares his life to his deceased father’s and a musician on tour longs for his lover at home.

Musically all songs are very restrained:Iadanza’s acoustic guitar and Craig Akin’s double bass support the vocal melody more than that they determine it. A few times Julie Wolf adds some piano, Carolin Pook a melancholic violin or the trio Gathering Time their moody, repetitive background vocals.

Because of that and of the free-flowing melodies Iadanza’s evocative vocals and his lyrics from within are at the centre. They convince without exception, because he understands the art of emphatizing with his characters and making their stories his own.

In doing that he is at the crossroads of folk and singer-songwriter, because although in many of his lyrics there is a social consciousness, they are highly personal at the same time.

The relative silence Iadanza creates, is deafening. - http://www.kippenvel.net/?p=2067


"Minor7th Reviews Traveling Salesman"

Notice the striking (and ecological) packaging of this CD. Iadanza dedicates the record to his grandfather, Sam -- a traveling salesman. Every detail reflects that this album is a labor of love. The songs bring to musical life the thoughts of the salesman as he drives from one place to another, sometimes late at night ("Night Light Lullaby"). The lyrics tend to jump like thought, from thing to thing ("And I've got this new pad, and you're the first word I felt inspired to write. Hey, maybe you're not feeling much different inside"). But the tendency toward disunity is more than offset by the consistency of the concept and the arrangements. One of Iadanza's best moves was securing the trio "Gathering Time" to spice up the vocals ("Your Song") and take the edge off his gritty voice. Thanks to them and Carolin Pook's fiddle playing and arranging, many of the tunes really swing ("Lovers in the Park," "The Barn"). Credit, as well, to Jon Castelli's engineering for maintaining clarity throughout. As Joe the Traveling Salesman, Iadanza has surely made Sam proud. © David Kleiner - Minor7th.com


"CelebrityCafe Reviews "Traveling Salesman""

Joseph Iadanza's Traveling Salesman combines the best elements of folk/rock and does justice to the legacy of artists such as James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Jim Croce by securing a place for their style of music well into the 21st century.

"Once upon a Time" is a beautifully crafted and sweetly simplistic tune that marries lovely melodic twists with a terrific rousing ending. "In My Heart" reminded me of Neil Young’s “Down by the River,” with its dark undertones and emotional intensity.

Tracks like "Sunshine Blues" and the title track, "Traveling Salesman," are rollicking fun, and really showcase Iadanza’s voice, which sounds eerily like a modern day version of the late, great Harry Chapin.

There is nice diversity here, and Iadanza is adept at changing gears, infusing energy into more up-tempo tunes and delivering his ballads with quiet grace. I found myself hoping this Traveling Salesman would be here to stay, because whatever he's selling next, I'm sold.

Reviewer: JC Chute - CelebrityCafe.com


"Acoustic Live! Reviews "Traveling Salesman""

Take one part James Taylor, add some John Prine, throw in a dollop of Harry Chapin, and you have the voice of Joe Iadanza. Joe brings a fresh perspective as well, to the storytelling prowess of all three of the aforementioned singer/songwriters. “Lovers in the Park” is a fast-breaking rush of observational cleverness, “…taking photoraphs for when they are apart / Like flowers in the rain, keeping tightly cupped until they’re free again…” The background vocals by Gathering Time (the depth of talent on Long Island can be staggering) are especially effective here. The outro has the group doing call and response with “Lovers in the park, I love…” It’s all absolutely delightful. I missed Joe at NERFA and hope I get a chance to see him in a live performance soon. (Reviewed by Richard Cuccaro at Acoustic Live!) - Acoustic Live!


"Rootstime Reviews "All In Good Time" (2010)"

By Dani Heyvaert (Originally in Dutch) and Translated by Dani Heyvaert.

Well, sometimes, Life has its surprises…I’ve been looking forward to attending Joe’s concert at Antwerp’s Crossroads for months and then, well then Life shows up and I simply can’t make it, because of well…family matters…

Anyway…there’s the new record: I played it over and over and over again, for more than 3 weeks now and, after some 30 spins, I guess I’m ready to say something about it. These 30 spins are no coincidence, because this CD is so beautiful in all it’s simplicity, it’s so convincing in all it’s nudity… 10 self written songs, in a production that was clearly meant to eliminate every lack of importance. The production was in the hands of Evan Brubaker, a guy we don’t know personally, but that’s only a matter of time and distance: this man understands the music he’s dealing with, that’s for sure: on this disc, you hardly hear more than Joe’s voice, a little violin; his guitar and some really sweet backing vocals. All this means the songs have to be really strong to stand out and keep the listener’s attention and yes…no doubt about it, this is the real thing: this is a CD that keeps your attention in all circumstances, whatever situation you’re listening to it. There’s only one condition to be fulfilled: you should be able to really listen. Then you’ll hear Iadanza’s delicious way of phrasing, his hard to imagine way of formulating and the CD’s overwhelming poetry.

When you hear Ghost Town, you wish Springsteen would cover it on his next Nebraska-album: in that way, half the world would get to know Iadanza-the-songwriter who’s a guy who deserves far more attention than he gets today. Start quoting the guy’s name alongside Cat Stevens’, Jim Croce’s or John Stewart’s and you’ll do yourself no harm. Above all of this, he’s his very self and I have to admit that remorse is reigning my life at this very moment: I should have been there, earlier tonight, in Antwerp. If I had been there, I would have gone nuts for verses like “I believe in the flowers within the seeds. They keep growing and won’t show their colors until they are free”. He who can write verses of this type of beauty, I guess we may call him a “very big one”, can’t we? Besides all of this: the packaging of the CD is almost as beautiful as the CD itself!

Original post of the Dutch review available at: http://www.rootsville.be/CD%20REVIEW%20TOTAL/CD%20REVIEWS%202010/JOE%20IADANZA.html - Rootstime.be


"Eclectic Cafe talks Joe Iadanza"

“It was a special night of music and a wonderful start to the Eclectic’s season. You and the band have an intersting, engaging and unique sound and a lot of chemistry on the stage. When you’ve made it big, and you and the band are touring the country, I hope you’ll tell your agent that it’s okay to book you, once again, at the Eclectic Cafe.” Karen Finkenberg - The Eclectic Cafe (Bay Shore, NY) - Karen Finkenberg


Discography

Wrecking Ball (Single) - September 2011

Photos

Bio

After four years of traveling the world performing original American folk music, singer/songwriter Joe Iadanza had become weary of the isolation that comes with being a solo artist and was dreaming about a compelling new band to draw from his classic rock roots.

An opportunity came with Bassist Craig Akin (Barnaby Bright, Red Molly) and drummer Christian Coleman (Little Embers) joining Iadanza as sidemen for a one-off gig in January at the 900 seat Patchogue Theater in Patchogue, NY. But, rather than deliver the expected songs form Iadanza’s folk-flavored acoustic catalogue, Iadanza surprised the crowd with a new set of fully electric roots and rock songs. Described by the local Patch publication as, “Apacolyptic”, the trio generated some interesting buzz and looked like the sure thing for them to carry on with. However, Iadanza was heading to tour in Europe, and there was no time to develop the project, until now.

James B. Dukehouse explores the gritty shadow side of Iadanza’s writing. Instruments are overdriven to create thick tones and a stark interplay of rhythms and harmonic ideas. Coleman and Akin combine to add Zeppelin and Stones-influenced grooves around Iadanza’s bluesy open tuned riffs and Springsteen-reminiscent vocals.

It all came together with a post on Facebook that read, “Go to Wikipedia and hit ‘random article’. The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.”

Iadanza took Facebook’s ‘Wikipedia’ challenge. The first thing that popped up was an article for the “James B. Duke House”, the Millionaire’s Row (NYC) mansion which was once owned by American Tobacco founder James Buchanan Duke. A perfect band name to an artist who has written so much about the struggle for the American dream, and for a band whose music explores the choices we make – at any cost – to get what we want.