Most people know him from his time in Poison and Mr. Big and from his latest project The Winery Dogs, but Richie Kotzen has had a long and stellar solo career of his own. He is an accomplished singer and songwriter and of course axeman extraordinaire. His latest release is a two (2) CD and DVD retrospective set on Loud & Proud records which spans his entire 18 album career. There are two brand new songs and a good mix of classic material, acoustic performances, and bootleg material handpicked by Richie himself.
Disc one kicks off with the two new tracks, “War Paint” and “Walk With Me,” which have a real blues feel to them. The versatility of Kotzen’s songwriting is a true delight with the classic hardrock of “Go Faster” and the funky groove of “Omg (What’s Your Name?).” Fans will also appreciate the previously unreleased track “Lie To Me.” Other standouts are the re-recorded “High” and an acoustic, stripped down version of “Special” both which allow Richie’s vocals to shine. The highlight of Disc two is an acoustic version of the piano ballad “The Road” which really captures your soul and has an almost gospel feel to it.
“The Essential Richie Kotzen” is both a perfect introduction to Richie’s solo work as well as a great compilation for fans. It is clear that Kotzen is a true virtuoso with his guitar playing sounding effortless yet intense. A big surprise for me was the absolute beauty of his vocals which were soulful, soaring when needed and blending seamlessly with the music. This is a set true music fans won’t want to miss.
