Jon Regen: Press

**** FOUR STARS. It's hard not to be drawn in by Regen's emotional ballad "Better Days" and the bittersweet "Photographs of You." Recommended.

Regen, a singer-songwriter in only the best possible way, is a soulful performer, fluid and engaging on vocals and piano..."Better Days" and "The Last Song" are the kinds of heart-rending piano-led ballads Chris Martin of Coldplay would cut off all ties to the Paltrow tribe to have written.

This pianist's no amateur: His CD "Let It Go" (Sandfish) features Andy Summers of the Police and Martha Wainwright. There are hints of Bruce Hornsby and Van Morrison about it and the songwriting lifts it a notch.

Tracks range from the Randy Newmanesque "It´s Alright By Me", which sounds like a strong contender for the next Pixar movie soundtrack, to a brace of tunes featuring guitarist Andy Summers - the hypnotic "Close To Me" and "Finding My Way Back to Me" (whose opening riff sounds like a very close relation of "Don´t Stand So Close To Me"). Regen displays an impressively wide pianistic touch, hitting the piano so hard in the title track you can almost feel the vibration of the strings, caressing the notes in the touching ballad "Better Days".

Despite the star potential lending a helping hand, it is still the magnificent verses and glorious choruses which put their stamp on this record – as well as Regen’s voice, which unobtrusively claims center stage shining like silken sandpaper. In a way, therefore, Let it Go is another manifestation of the mystery and magic of music: You can tour the planet, sell thousands of records and grace the covers of glossy magazines, but no marketing budget in the world could make songs about the torture of wanting, the cruelty of love and the solitude of a room after she’s left sound this credible.

Right from the opening chords rippling from the keys of his piano on the title track, "Let It Go", which opens the disc, you know you're about to experience something quite a bit different from what you'd expect from a piano playing pop singer. This is a well crafted and finely executed album of songs blending elements of pop and jazz music. The real pity is that if more people heard music like this they wouldn't settle for what currently rides the top of the charts.

Radio-friendly pop tunes, featuring rich lyrics, cool and honest vocals, and grooving piano and organ playing...Like (Bruce) Hornsby, Regen has facility, hipness, and the confidence to pull it off.

I’ve been converted. I’m a Jon Regen fan. A mesmerizing artist with the charisma and voice to captivate even an audience of hungry jazz fans.

It’s Regen’s own writing and crooning that carry the day here: “Better Days,” “Disappear” and the title tune make the most impact with no “name” assistance whatsoever. Regen’s proven himself a master of jazz and pop...

Regen comes out swinging with the album's title track and continues to impress with songs that include "Close to Me" and "Finding My Way Back to Me."

Let It Go is a wonderful album - it's full of depth, emotion and feeling from the beginning to the end. I've found it to be a very relatable album, with songs such as Photographs of You and I Come Undone.

Perfectly poised contemporary pop, much in the vein of icons like Billy Joel and Randy Newman...Let It Go is another significant milestone in Regen’s burgeoning career, and represents a consolidation of his composing aptitude and an inspired indicator of his progressive pianistic skills. It’s also solid proof that contemporary pop can be witty and emotional, without once slipping into awkward mawkishness.

Regen skillfully proves that he’s a force to be reckoned with. Sentimental ballads such as “Better Days” and “Photographs of You” are certain to pop on a soundtrack or a TV show in the near future and lead single “Let it Go,” certainly has a rollicking movement to it that would make Michael McDonald smile.

Kicking off with Billy Joel-style piano rock title track, the album morphs as it progresses. Funky uptempo numbers ("Close To Me") give way to Elvis Costello-worthy ballads ("Better Days"). Over repeated listenings the album begins to yield more and more of its secrets to you. Strings here, guitar flair there originally go unnoticed. But it's these layers of sound that give the music a nocturnal appeal.

Sometimes an album just hits the mark. Let it Go is one of those records. There is something to it that just feels like home. Jon Regen has taken on the singer/songwriter genre from a point of view not often seen. The New Jersey native has a Jazz pedigree but the heart of a pop songwriter with the ability to make words and music move your heart through the arc of a relationship’s highs and lows.

A little Dave Matthews vocal warble and a lot of the serious side of Ben Folds saturates the record... His style–and musical complexity–was influenced by his time with jazz players Jimmy Scott and Kenny Barron, and the pristine sound of the piano on the record can be attributed to Steinway giving him the keys to its storied warehouse, letting him record with whatever grand he pleased. No question, Let it Go isn’t kids’ stuff, it’s for grownups. If you dig nuanced and introspective music–and you also appreciate excellent piano work, check out Jon Regen. He’s your guy.

Let It Go has high folkpop credibility, with production work from the same guys who work with Teddy Thompson and Ryan Adams, and support from Martha Wainwright on vocals and the distinctive guitarwork of Andy Summers of The Police, but Regen's original songwriting and stellar performance are the real find here.

His piano fills, alternately funky and frantic, held the interest as an air of Seventies blue-eyed soul, Carole King-style, began to descend.

Jon Regen is one hell of a great pianist. And what do you know? His writing chops are just as hot. A protege of Kenny Barron, Jon has been bringing us story after story that oozes inspiration and is full of the New York scene in which he lives and works. And the New York Times writes about him. Can you beat that? Search for it at www.nytimes.com, it's a great read!

Pianist and singer Jon Regen is a brilliant storyteller... He has already developed his completely own handwriting as a composer.

Jon Regen is one of the best young jazz pianists in the world.

Michael Hill gives a double concert with Jon Regen, the miracle child from New York, who one can quite compare with Billy Joel.

Regen's voice might carry him a long, long way.

Although the British press has described Mr. (Jamie) Cullum as "Sinatra in sneakers," he is a long way from having a Sinatra or Nat Cole-level vocal instrument. Likewise, he has less technique as a pianist than, say, Jimmy Scott's prodigious accompanist, Jon Regen...

Regen made a name for himself with the great Jimmy Scott. A fine pianist (and protege of Kenny Barron) he's moved into pop crossover material with his new album, influenced by the likes of Randy Newman and Billy Joel.