Coordinating a band, writing and recording songs, and orchestrating all the music well enough to make coherent noise can be a difficult task for a whole team of players.
Now imagine playing all the instruments, singing, producing, and then distributing the album yourself.
Jonathan Attea, a resident of the Elmwood neighborhood in Buffalo, accomplishes all of the above with his new release "Guestroom Project." He manages to pull off a smooth and fun jazzy rock sound as the brains and body behind the album.
The name "Guestroom Project" came about because the album was actually recorded in Attea's guestroom in his Elmwood apartment. Over the span of 18 months, Attea enlisted the help of friends Derek Gee, Jonathan Kidder and Stephen Haykel on vocals. Every song was recorded through some trial-and-error mixing methods, but Attea has crafted a solid album that is easy on the ears.
A lot of the songs on this album have a distinct funk sound. The bass lines are heavy and drive most of the songs, complemented by a simple but interesting combination of guitar palm mutes and jazzy drumbeats.
While many of the tunes have a funk influence, there is a prevalent classic rock edge to them that is not common in modern music.
One particularly groovy track, entitled "Time Part II," centralizes the kind of music Attea plays. There is a Jimi Hendrix influence in many of the guitar solos and breakdowns throughout the songs.
"Guestroom Project" is most appealing to fans of the classics or retro dance grooves. For an album primarily recorded and produced by one person, there is a great level of musicianship that shines through, as evidenced by how seamlessly the tracks blend together. The quality of the production is surprisingly professional and adds to the tight feeling found in the music.
