Flattened – that’s how I feel. Dan Hazlett has thrown a knockout punch right at “The Corner of My Eye.” That’s the title of his latest record, by the by. Hazlet is an independent songwriter that plays in a smooth jazzy, folk-tinged, acoustic-driven style that just feels good while it hits you right in the face with pure musicality.

Weaving stories of life into melodies like Cockburn, with a laid back vocal that struck me immediately as similar to that of Randy Newman (another of my favorites). While I listen to “Empty Room,” I’m taken right back to the brick streets of Huntington, sitting in the car with the rain on the windows, wipers clearing the windshield like mom’s tissue as she pointed out childhood memories.

Perfectly recorded pianos, beautiful slide and haunting electric guitars with slightly under-stated drums fit the mood of each tune like a glove and as each one starts, another swing knocks me farther into my corner chair, reeling in the music.

Grace like Ali guides his fingers across the strings and every song delivers a perfectly placed blow. Like the totally unexpected mute trumpet that hit my ears for the upbeat jazz stylings of “Nobody’s Fool” while I was still recovering from the left hook I just took from “Alien” ( a beautiful balad with a lyric that hit me completely by surprise).

Hazlett’s list of accolades goes on and on, and on record number eight, he’s bound to have a winner for sure!

If James Taylor could paint like Rembrandt and O’Henry could sing like David Wilcox, they’d sound pretty much like the contemporary acoustic songs of Dan Hazlett. http://danhazlett.com/

Just a few of his accomplishments include:

For more than 30 years, Dan has performed and toured throughout the Midwest. His seven previously released CDs have received airplay throughout the United States as well as internationally, and have been praised by everyone from musical colleagues to concert hosts to radio DJs. Dan has been nominated multiple times for Detroit Music Awards, and has achieved recognition for his work in events such as the Great Lakes Songwriting Contest, Big Top Chautauqua Songwriting Contest, and the Billboard Songwriting Competition. As an educator, Dan has been featured on the staff at the prestigious Lamb’s Retreat for Songwriters, the Madison Songwriters Guild Retreat and has been on the staff at the internationally renowned Interlochen Academy for the Arts. http://cyberpr.biz/clients/3210/