David Davenport offers a straight down the line stripped down sound on One Brother, his second release. This is a deeply emotive recording for Davenport. Nearly the entire album is his voice and a grand piano. Because of the prolific real life lyrics, the rhythmic sensibility, and a strong vocal presence, the kind you would be able to single out in a church choir, this works very well.
Davenport will remind you of some prominent artists such as Van Morrsion like on “The Power,” as he repeats in a toe tapping way…“Preacher, preach!, heal my pain, his pockets are deep, his words…well you get the picture. David is not a supporter of religion; he believes in a spiritual path and a connection to his fellow man and mother earth without the politics of religion to cloud his vision. What is ironic is that some of tracks sound like old spirituals like “All In” or “Sylvie,” when Billy Joel’s style came to mind more than once. It ends up being yet another (listen to The Big Machine) thought provoking and moving experience track by track.
Everything this man creates is for a reason and you simply cannot ignore his message and the valid points that he makes in his music. The music is secondary to the words. The added bonus that we get from the artist is the contemporary rock and pop infused with the blues and R &B, and it is always good.
My hat is off to Mr. Davenport for taking such a radically different musical approach and making it work like magic. This kind of change proves the that this artist has what it takes and his music stands on its own merit whether it is just him and a piano or an entire band behind him, it does not matter, what you will hear is a quality recording.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-February 24, 2008
