Who Is He?
Artist: Dylan Triplett
Label: Vizztone
Released: 2022
Number of Tracks: 10
Duration:
Website: https://dylantriplettmusic.com/
Review by Mixmaster Linc
I just came across the 2022 debut album by Cahokia IL native, Dylan Triplett, and it is superfine. Dylan started singing professionally at the age of 15 with his father and uncle, who were seasoned St. Louis area jazz musicians, under the moniker “Little Dylan.” Who Is He? is the result of Dylan’s first experience in the recording studio, but Vizztone Records was expecting good things, because they brought in Grammy Award winning bassist and producer, Larry Fulcher, to produce it, along with Wayne Goins (guitarist and head of K State’s department of Jazz Studies) to co-produce. The late great Mike Finnigan lays down the keys for the full album, and along with an all-star collection of St. Louis area musicians, Dylan’s friend, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, plays guitar on two of the cuts. All Dylan does is sing, but with a 4 ½ octave range, man, does he!
The album contains 10 cuts, three of which were written or co-written by Triplett, and two more came from Fulcher. Two of the covers came from the soul / R&B world, (Marvin Gaye’s “That’s the Way Love Is” and Bill Withers’ “Who Is He and What Is He to You?”) and Dylan gives them a nice funky, jazzy feel, and, of course, he sings them impeccably. The other venture away from the blues, is a cover of Oscar Brown, Jr.’s vocal interpretation of Miles Davis’ “All Blues.” The longest song on the album (and the closing cut), Dylan’s interpretation of “All Blues” is so funky, the funk cut be cut with a knife, and the instrumental bridges are utter craftsmanship.
If I had extra thumbs, I’d give this album more than two thumbs up, but my days as a carnival geek are over.
Hear for yourself: Listen on YouTube
