It’s refreshing to hear a new piano man like Lenny Revell come out with such an earnest and real record as Lessons in today’s often stale and over-processed musical environment. Revell’s piano playing and songwriting are strong with shades of Broadway and Billy Joel throughout. There is a nice variety of styles from the bouncy Reggae-ish “Expectations” to the alleycat slink of “Ghost,” as well as the exceptional, classically-grounded “Prelude/Revenge of Little Red Riding Hood” that closes the record. Revell shows talent and promise as a vocalist and lyricist, and displays a knack for progressions that go well beyond three-chord pop. Gavin DeGraw, watch out — Lenny Revell is on the scene! (LR Records)
-Robbie Gennet