New Music from Lyle Lovett & his Large Band + some performances nearby

Hard to believe it’s been 35 years (plus) since I’ve started enjoying the musical talents of Lyle Lovett – And it’s been about 10 years since his last record with his Large Band was released – But his latest release, 12th of June, shows the artist and his band in fine form & not having missed a beat.

The record begins with swinging big band jazz instrumental work. Before Lyle’s distinctive crooning appears in the second track, he’s centered the crack assembly of musicians that drive this album. He follows this up with the gospel-flecked wry humor of “Pants Is Overrated”. Prompted by a search for his favorite trousers, Lovett’s narrator invokes the Scots, Jesus’ couture, and babies’ “birthday suits” within a call-and-response song structure that has echoes of “Church” from 1992’s Joshua Judges Ruth and seems to be a playful parable against conforming to conventions.

Lovett has described this project as his combined reflections on fatherhood that came to him late in life. 12th of June has both the quirkiness and fun that one would usually find on a Lyle Lovett record – but the overall quality of the artist’s writing and the band’s musicianship is what really makes this project shine. Standout tracks include a couple of covers in “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” and “Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good to You,” plus some solid originals in the form of “Are We Dancing,” “The Mocking Ones,” or in the fiddle and saloon piano interplay featured in “On A Winter’s Morning,” and the subtle reflections found in the title track, as well as the straightforward country feel of “Her Loving Man.”

Folks interested in hearing this music performed live are in luck! Lyle & his Large Band will be in our area several times in the next ten days or so for you to enjoy... They will be in Lancaster at the American Music Theatre this Saturday, July 30th & then they will open a four-night stint at The City Winery in Philadelphia from August 2nd to the 5th – Ample opportunities to check out this amazing collection of stellar musicians.

Check out the title track here:

...and here's one more!