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Rob Lutes is a soulful singersongwriter
from Montreal with
an ever-growing collection of
literate, moving meditations on
life and love.
His ability to encapsulate universal ideas
and questions, even the subtle ones, coupled
with his gritty, heartfelt delivery and worldclass
performance chops, have invited
comparisons with several legends in the roots
genre from John Hiatt to Fred Eaglesmith.
“He will soon be counted amongst the ranks
of the best in the industry, a rare talent
that keeps getting better with each project
released” says Hello Darlin’ Productions
promoter Matt Large.
Greg Quill of the Toronto Star deemed
his third CD, 2007’s Ride the Shadows “a
brilliantly understated gem…among the best
of the year’s roots/blues crop.” The Ottawa
Citizen named the CD “one of the Top Ten in
Canada for 2007”.
Following on the success of that work, which
garnered a licensing deal from Rounder
Europe and a saw him tour internationally,
the former Kerrville New Folk songwriting
winner went into the studio in autumn
2008 with noted producer David Goodrich
(Chris Smither, Jeffrey Foucault), to record
his much-awaited fourth CD. The result, the
just-released CD Truth & Fiction, is his most
confident work to date.
“The process was so creative this time,” Lutes
says. “David put us all in a great space to
let these songs come to life, where it feels
like the music just really supports the lyrics.
That’s always the goal for me.” The ability to
encapsulate universal ideas and questions has
become a hallmark of Lutes’ songs. “These
songs are works of creativity for me but my
own philosophical truth is buried in these
songs and stories.”
The impressive group of musicians with
Lutes on this release include noted singersongwriter
Annabelle Chvostek (Wailin
Jennys) on vocals, percussionist Geoff
Arsenault (Ray Bonneville, David Myles),
Montreal-based jazz giant Morgan Moore on
bass, Olivier Demers (Vent du Nord) on violin
and Lutes’ gifted sideman Rob MacDonald
on resophonic and electric guitars. Goodrich
himself saddles up a few instruments to
round out the sound that envelops Lutes’ own
rhythmic fingerstyle guitar as never before.
Truth & Fiction met with rave reviews and
spent three months in the top ten on the
EuroAmericana Chart. Lutes is touring
Canada, Europe and the U.S. in support of
Truth & Fiction in 2009. He will release a new
CD, his fifth, in Spring 2010.
RECENT REVIEWS:
"If ever an artist captured perfectly the simple beauty and honest of roots music, it’s Rob Lutes."
Maverick (UK)
"Exceptional live."
Evening Post, UK
"A world-class songwriter - his most compelling album yet."
Mike Regenstreif, Montreal Gazette
"Everytime I listen to the latest Rob Lutes CD I'm a little more awe-struck. Powerful and subtle lyrics; and what a delivery, half whisper, half
breathless promise...wow."
Julie Miller - CFLX Sherbrooke
"More releases like 2008's splendid Truth & Fiction, perhaps the best release of his career, and Lutes won't need to worry about the rent. A gifted songwriter widely praised and perhaps more widely thought of as underknown, Lutes seems poised to tip..."
Dave Jaffer, Ottawa XPress
"Formidable writing skills. A damn fine CD."
Penguin Eggs
"...his mastery of playing and singing, make both seem like a natural extension of his honest world view. Like the best of singer/songwriters, Rob Lutes creates a space within the song where listener and singer share a cab ride. You are alone in the back seat, the world is zooming by and there are stories to be told and lessons to be learned."
theacousticroot.com
"His set was like a naked flame all set and ready to torch the place." Allan Wilkinson, Northern Sky
"Rob Lutes' talent is not fiction and once again, he delivers an album at the height of his talent." Le Net Blues (Canada)
"Rob Lutes packs a powerful punch with his raw take on the roots music genre."
Real Detroit
"Lutes is the master storyteller. 8/10"
Gerard Dee, Montreal Mirror
“Rob Lutes has refined his expression, as he has climbed a notch with each release. He is now in my opinion, among the very finest in the genre.” Johan Annetorp, www.rootsy.nu
“*****” (five stars)
Ctrlaltcountry.be
Read full review: www.ctrlaltcountry.be
"another seasoned, strong statement from Canadian Rob Lutes..."
Frank Ipach, www.hookedonmusic.de
“An inspired songwriter.”
rootstime.be (Belgium/Netherlands)
http://rootstime.be/
“a skilled synthesis between contemporary semi-acoustic blues and folk music. A superb album.”
(Belgium/Netherlands)
http://rootsville.be/
CD of the Month, December 2008
Americana OK!
www.americanaok.com
"It's a masterpiece."
Roel Stabler, Havenstad FM
"One of the most impressive new Americana artists of the decade."
Kees van Wee, Heaven
“…all beautiful songs.”
altcountry.nl
“A great songwriter, a man with a great way with words and also a fantastic guitar picker!”
- Michael Jerome Browne
“Lutes should be recognized as on of the country's more distinctive roots voices.”
- Dean Cottrill, Hour Magazine
“There are few Canadian singer-songwriters who straddle the Canada-US songwriting border with ease, Garnet Rogers comes to mind. Montreal-based songwriter Rob Lutes will soon be counted amongst the ranks of the best in the industry. Insightful and meaty like Bill Morrissey, the aforementioned Rogers and Lucy Kaplansky, he is also gutty and gritty like Greg Brown or Chris Smither. A rare talent that keeps getting better with each project released, one listen will prove he is more than a passing fancy - this guy is here to stay.”
- Matt Large, Concert promoter, Hello Darlin’ Productions
“Widely recognized as a gifted songwriter.”
- Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
“Probably the best-kept secret on the Montreal folk-blues scene. A must for every fan of folk music.”
- Paroles et Musique
“Lutes displays colors and talents like the John Hiatt of Bring the Family and Slow Turning.”
- Serge Truffaut, Le Devoir
“Lutes seems like a cross between the electric-acoustic duality of Fred Eaglesmith and the tenderness of Ron Sexsmith. Truly excellent.”
- Claude Cote, Voir Magazine
“…a createor of distinctive, beautiful folk-blues rhythms as good as the best writer-composers of his generation. Heart and soul come through in his voice.”
- André Courey, Tremblant Express
“In the overcrowded field of roots-inspired music, though, the singer-songwriter is only as good as the stories he’s telling, and in this respect, Lutes proves to be an expert.”
- Johnson Cummins, Montreal Mirror
“With the release of his latest CD, Rob Lutes, Canadian singer-songwriter-guitarist puts his name is a rare category of artist. His voice is equally exceptional as his skill on the guitar. Fans of vocals, melody and guitar work will love the subtle mix of blues, jazz and ragtime that is Rob Lutes music.”
- Jacques Charbonneau, www.laguitar.com
ON THE LIVE SHOW:
“It's only the very best that are able to play better live than on the cd. Rob Lutes and Rob MacDonald do it. If they are playing somewhere near you, do not miss it. It just doesn't get any better! ”
- Tony Sanner, Concert Series Presenter,
De Slotplaats, Bakkeveen, The Netherlands
“After a full day of incredible acts, there are very few artists who could have risen to the level that Rob Lutes did to close out the first annual Folk Festival on the Canal. His performance was absolutely brilliant and befitting of a true headliner, playing his amazingly crafted songs while guitarist Rob MacDonald wowed the audience with guitar playing that no human should be capable of. ”
- Dave Cool, Co-Founder,
Montreal Folk Festival on the Canal
“Rob’s appearance at Crossroads was definitely one of the three very best sessions out of the 145 sessions we’ve recorded so far.”
- Jos van den Boom, Crossroads Radio,
Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands
“Rob Lutes gave a solid crowd-pleasing performance at City Roots Festival. Rob's gritty vocals, powerful and precise guitar work do justice to his well-crafted original songs. Rob is a convincing solo performer; but with the addition of Rob MacDonald on dobro, the overall effect becomes even more captivating and capable of holding any audience. Recommended!”
- Howard Gladstone, Executive Director,
Toronto CityRoots Festival – www.torontocityroots.com
“By the time Rob Lutes came on stage, the stars were out, the mood was mellow and the NDG singer's soulful vocals and songwriting were the perfect ending to a perfect day. Guitarist Rob MacDonald was just as much a star as Lutes was, blowing away the crowd with his mad guitar skills.”
- Toula Foscolas, Westmount Examiner
“As musicians, Rob Lutes and Rob MacDonald are almost like guitar Vishnus - one super being with many hands playing together. This tightness helps propel Lutes’ songs, especially in a live setting, to an exceptionally passionate level.”
- Between Adam’s Ears, May 2008
RECORDINGS:
“a brilliantly understated gem distinguished by a warm and raspy voice, honest and eloquent lyrics, and evocative acoustic guitar work…among the best of the year's roots/blues crop”
- Greg Quill, Toronto Star
**** (four stars)
“If you like literate blues-based Americana with a keen sense of melody, then check out Rob Lutes’ latest release.”
- Americana Homeplace Radio
**** (four stars)
"Lutes sounds like he's letting you in on a secret and you'd better listen, while the less-is-more approach to the music emphasizes the connection between singer, song and acoustic guitar."
- Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Ride the Shadows named TOP TEN CANADIAN CDs of 2007
– Ottawa Citizen
Ride the Shadows named Top 50 CDs of 2007
- American Connection
“Montreal's Rob Lutes makes his music at the same intersection of blues, Americana, and singer-songwriter balladry that Chris Smither and David Van Ronk have inhabited so well. In his third album, Rob shows off smooth Piedmont style fingerpicking, a whisky baritone voice, and tasteful accompaniment on 12 soulful and powerful songs.”
- Sing Out!
“An amazing listen and worthy check out for all blues/folk/roots fans.”
- Chris Jacques, Scene Roots and Blues Magazine
“ shines with excellent musicianship and finely crafted songs. An artist to watch.”
- Richard Middleton, Sing Out!
“Lutes' ability to find the beauty in sadness is reminiscent of Van Morrison. The prevailing mood may well be melancholic, but it's all achingly lovely, thoroughly clear-eyed and utterly unsentimental.”
- John Taylor, CanadianBlues.ca
“these quiet songs draw you in with a storytelling style that’s at once universal and uniquely Canadian.” 8/10
- Gerard Dee, Montreal Mirror
“There are artists that reach you through their songwriting, their melodies or their voice; Rob Lutes succeeds at all three... an album that cannot be ignored.”
- Patricia Clavel, Le Net Blues
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