{"id":69597,"date":"2021-10-20T01:41:12","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T06:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=69597"},"modified":"2021-10-22T13:08:23","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T18:08:23","slug":"jeff-scott-soto-the-duets-collection-vol-1-music-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2021\/jeff-scott-soto-the-duets-collection-vol-1-music-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeff Scott Soto \u2013 The Duets Collection, Vol. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Alexandra Mrozowska
\u2014 Senior Columnist \u2014<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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As the old adage goes \u2013 be careful what you wish for… When Hardrock Haven had a privilege to catch up with Jeff Scott Soto<\/a> in January 2021, one of the things we discussed was a future possibility of him recording and releasing a duet album. At the time, it seemed to be a perfect \u2018what-if\u2019 kind of question \u2013 one of those us pesky journos keep on asking to our guests\u2019 terror. Little did we know that mere months after we\u2019ve vaguely mentioned an idea of JSS sharing the microphone with some fellow artists, the artist\u2019s social media will be flooded with a set of hints and clues that eventually led to the duet album announcement. Talk about the crystal ball vision… It was the first week of October when Jeff Scott Soto\u2019s The Duets Collection, Vol. 1 <\/em>hit the shelves \u2013 a \u2018greatest hits\u2019 compilation with a twist, a handful of JSS classics in original arrangements reprised as duets with the likes of Erik M\u00e5rtensson (Eclipse, W.E.T.), Dino Jelusick (ex-Animal Drive, Dirty Shirley), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell), BJ (SOTO, Spektra) and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of the tracklist, The Duets Collection <\/em>it\u2019s less than fifty minutes of the listening experience equal to crate digging in your favorite little record store. With a plethora of musical shades and nuances to JSS career, many are brought up here \u2013 from the neoclassical vibe of the early Malmsteen epic (\u201cDon\u2019t Let It End\u201d) through Melodic Rock swagger of Eyes and early Talisman (\u201cCallin\u2019 All Girls\u201d, \u201cI\u2019ll Be Waiting\u201d, \u201cColour My XTC\u201d, \u201cMysterious\u201d) to more contemporary Hard Rock cuts (\u201cAgain 2 B Found\u201d, \u201cLivin\u2019 the Life\u201d). But there\u2019s one common denominator for them all \u2013 the level of songwriting craft of each of the songs was simply top-notch at the time they were conceived, and unsurprisingly, these melodies do stand the test of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s little chronology and even less philosophy to this album beyond Jeff Scott Soto getting together for a singalong of sorts with a dozen of his fellow singers. Each of the invited does bring his instantly recognizable singing manner to the table, though, tones and styles ranging from fierce and raspy (Dino Jelusick in \u201cDon\u2019t Let It End\u201d, Mats Lev\u00e9n in \u201cAgain 2 Be Found\u201d) to mellow and sweet (Deen Castronovo in \u201cComing Home\u201d). As far as the instrumental performances go, there\u2019s some big shoes to fill \u2013 from Yngwie Malmsteen\u2019s and Axel Rudi Pell\u2019s larger-than-life shredding style to musical complexity of Talisman and Humanimal \u2013 but the guitarists Jorge Salan (solo, SOTO), Howie Simon and Leo Mancini, as well as the rhythm section of Tony Dickinson (bass) and Edu Cominato (drums) all rise up to the challenge. But once you realize there was even a bigger challenge present here \u2013 this of revisiting your entire singing career and putting your voice against those of others, sometimes decades younger \u2013 it becomes obvious there\u2019s many impressive vocalists on this album, but only one star singer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just keeping all these options open,\u201d said Jeff Scott Soto in January 2021 while interviewed for HRH. \u201cI\u2019m just blessed that I have a career where people wanna see me continue singing and they wanna see me dueting with other people that I love and respect.\u201d The impression of mutual respect among all the artists involved is indeed what shines through the album, each singer given enough space to give a fair showcase of his skills while also staying true to the songs\u2019 original versions. Far more than just a dull \u2018best of\u2019 album one could regurgitate with ease, The Duets Collection, Vol. 1 <\/em>takes you for a journey through almost four decades of Jeff Scott Soto\u2019s music career only to remind you the reasons why many of these songs became cult classics in the first place. And while it leaves you thirsty for a Vol. 2<\/em>, which might or might not grace our record collection sometime in the future, don\u2019t be fooled into thinking one of the most prolific artists of our time is just about to rest on his laurels. There\u2019s some new solo material in the works \u2013 and probably a lot more than just that… After all, there\u2019s nothing certain in this world but three things \u2013 death, taxes and quality music from JSS, and in the case of the latter, as they say, sky is the limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Genre: Melodic Hard Rock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Band:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Scott Soto – Vocals and Keys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edu Cominato – Drums<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tony Dickinson – Bass<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jorge Salan – Guitars<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Howie Simon – Guitars<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leo Mancini – Guitars<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Additional vocal performances by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik M\u00e5rtensson (Eclipse\/W.E.T.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dino Jelusick (Animal Drive)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eric Martin (Mr. Big)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathan James (Inglorious)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, Journey)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alirio Netto (Shaman, Queen Extravaganza)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen\/Lande)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renan Zonta (Electric Mob)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BJ (SOTO, Spektra)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mats Lev\u00e9n (Candlemass)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tracklisting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Livin\u2019 The Life (ROCK STAR) feat. Erik M\u00e5rtensson <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Don\u2019t Let It End (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) feat. Dino Jelusick<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Mysterious (TALISMAN) feat. Eric Martin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Believe in Me (JSS) feat. Nathan James<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Coming Home (SOUL SIRKUS) feat. Dean Castronovo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. I\u2019ll Be Waiting (TALISMAN) feat. Alirio Netto<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Callin\u2019 All Girls (EYES) feat. Russell Allen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Colour My XTC (TALISMAN) feat. Renan Zonta<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Warrior (AXEL RUDI PELL) feat. Johnny Gioeli <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Holding On (JSS) feat. BJ<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Again 2 B Found (HUMANIMAL) feat. Mats Lev\u00e9n (Candlemass) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Label: Frontiers Music SRL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hardrock Haven rating: 9\/10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visit Jeff Scott Soto online: Facebook<\/a> | Twitter<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watch the official videos off Jeff Scott Soto\u2019s TheDuets Collection, Vol. 1<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cComing Home\u201d feat. Deen Castronovo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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