ROBBIE GENNET

Little gem of an album by American sideman.

Gleams is a modest little album with a mere seven tracks running to under half an hour. With a career most notable for touring with mainstream American rock bands Seven Mary Three, Saigon Kick and Everclear, the name Robbie Gennet may not set Prog readers’ pulses racing. So far, so unpromising. But don’t let Gennet’s potted CV deter you from investigating Gleams. While Gennet himself handles much of the playing on this solo album, he has also roped in a handful of names more familiar to prog cognoscenti, such as the ubiquitous Fernando Perdomo (who co-produces with Gennet), drummer Ryan Brown (from Dweezil Zappa’s band) and vocalist Durga McBroom

(of Pink Floyd vocal fame). While Gennet may have earned his primary crust with Seven Mary Three et al, Gleams suggests a solid grounding in the more accessible end of prog rock. These concise tracks have immediate appeal but plenty of depth too, revolving principally around Gennet’s sparkling piano playing. There’s lots of lush instrumentation, including plenty of strings, and some Jellyfishstyle quirks. If there’s a weak link, Gennet’s vocal skills are fairly limited, but that’s a minor quibble.