The Road To Santiago by Randy Heddon

This writer’s overall impression of The Road To Santiago is that of a motion picture score. It’s very interesting to play the “what if” game. If this CD was a motion picture score, you wonder what the story would be? True, it has a pervasive sense of dreaminess, with romantic flashes of obscurity.

The tune The Avatar From The Great Beyond is, however, not dreamy or obscure. It’s a spoof on “self-proclaimed gurus” who will say what you want to hear and they do take checks. (Likely they take credit cards as well.) It’s not hard to write a realistic but gently teasing song about hypocrisy and shallowness in the mainstream of our society, but Heddon does one better: The instruments, rhythms and melodic figures are authentically of eastern origin. He’s not pretending to be from India, but he has more authenticity in his sound than many so-called “enlightened ones.” This tune has a catchy refrain for anyone to sing along on the first listen.

Heddon’s voice is mostly soft and understated in his delivery. He cultivates the dissolving sense of the intellectual in favor of the existential. Beautiful crying violin, soprano sax and splashing waves of piano phrases captivate the listener.

Just as you begin to wonder how far it will take you willingly, the music arrives on the streets near a New Orleans-style blues bar. This sixth cut is a dance tune, with a laughing sing-along refrain. It’s a party because someone finally got convicted of Cheating In The First Degree!

Heddon’s vocalizations, for most of the songs, are soft and even, making a James Taylor tune sound raucous and lilting. This writer notes that, where Heddon really leans on a note, his voice is strong and commanding. There is something in his way of pronouncing the name “Santiago” that hints he knows more than he is saying…or does he? Is Heddon in a romantic fog of his own wishful thinking, or is he preparing to depart for Santiago, on foot, forever?

Musicians listed on this CD include Eric Marienthal on sax (Chick Corea), violinist Harry Scorzo (Celine Dion) and guitarist Irvin Magic Kramer (Ray Charles, Nora Jones). It certainly is a very good addition to anyone’s collection. This writer suspects that its appeal may be enhanced by listening in really hot weather, but the siren call of the cool mists in the sanctuary of the soul are irresistible any time of year.

Classed as “smooth jazz” or “soft rock,” the CD is available at cdbaby online. Heddon could carry all the tunes soloing live with his own piano accompaniment, but the supporting artists on this recording really make the magic happen

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