Randy Singer is back with his new album, that adds an extra dimension to the harmonica. Switching between his 10-hole Golden Melodys and his Hohner 64, and guitar.

Probably the best known tune on Randy Singer's Harmonica Dreams is Feelings that classic pop tune from around 1969 which seems to evoke the feelings and approach to the album.

Randy says the album is designed to be radio friendly. That it may be. But what it really is, is listener friendly. It's one of albums that is designed for hands-free listening.

Just put it in the player and listen without having to worry about trying to skip certain tricks. No need. They're all good. And even though the album has lots of harmonica on it, the listener doesn't have to be a harmonica player to enjoy it.

"Some CDs fall by the wayside after a few listens," Randy says. "I hope that this is a CD that improves well with time. A feelgood, commercial CD with an emphasis on songwriting and production and a serious artistic groove. A message in every song

Of course, that was one of the designs Randy built into the album. He has been a Hohner endorsee since 1984. In other words it is not merely a collection of tunes but a concept album, meant to be taken as a whole.

"I think this is one of the long-runners. Each song does ,recycle' its verse and choruses. "What this means is that each song constantly unfolds new textures, structures grooves and develops cohesively. If you listen carefully, you will always hear something different in the production. This is how I produced it.

"Some CDs can be drop-grooved and listened to, but this CD needs be listened to a few times to hear the hidden information, panned cymbals and groove manipulations that cannot be revealed in one listening.

"This CD sounds great if listened to with headphones!"

For some people producing solos is the easiest part of the mix. Start the band and play. But for Randy it was a little more problematic. The less is more equation.

"It was very difficult to play simple, as I have a tendency to play everything I know in every solo," Randy says.

"I produced this with a radio style format keeping my solos concise and to the point. I took some solos with extended changes, but we opted to keep it simple. So, instead of long extended solos, there is one gem of 'overplaying' in every solo that should keep everyone satisfied.

"It is my Abbey Road ... a journey of a lifetime."

He's drawn praise from others. "Randy Singer has the wonderful artistic gift of moving from the most intimate and expressive traditional and modem jazz melodies to soulfully singing the blues and funkying the hippest fusion tune," according to Lanny Smith of C.E.O. Planet Earth Project.

Randy Singer's singing and guitar and harmonica playing has been compared to a range of performers. His singing voice is compared to that of Nat "King" Cole, Al Jarreau and Sting. His guitar playing recalls Santana and George Benson. His chromatic and diatonic harp playing seems to transcend any limits from jazz standards, to pop favorites and R&B classics.

In his live gigs, Randy performs as a soloist with sequences featuring the songs of Miles Davis, George Benson, Frank Sinatra, die Beatles, Jimmy Buffet, Bob Marley, The Eagles, Sting, Santana, as well as a variety of Reggae, Salsa, Latin, Brazilian and other great contemporary/traditional jazz selections.

As a performer, Randy is no slouch, he gets around and often. He has developed a strong following with returning performances at concert events such as Sunfest, the Merrick Festival, The Miami Lakes Jazz Festival, Taste of the Beach, the Miami Earthday Concert and the 10th Aniversary La Rosa Ballet Flamenco Concert.

He is the featured instrumentalist and vocalist for the Planet Earth Project and performs with the Smoke Rings Vocal Project, South Beach-Brazil Project and with Maryel Epps. He has performed regularly in venues as Toni Bishop's Jazz Club, Fisher Island, The Royal Carribean Cruise Line, the VI.P room in the National Car Rental Stadium, the Loews Hotel, the Casablanca Cafe of South Beach and Don Rickles birthday party at Renato's of West Palm Beach.

Randy is no stranger to the live stage and recording studio with other notable performers. Before making the CD considered in this review, Randy had tallied recording and performance credits that included Julio Iglesias, Tools Thielemans, Gilberto Gil, Desmond Child, Franco di Vita, Pim Pinella, Garth Brooks, Emmy Lou Harris, Tanya Tucker, Blondie, Spanish Fly, Cactano Veloso, Billie Meyers, Eddy Martinez, Here is a brief breakdown of the tunes on the album 'and Randy's comments about them.

Rio Dreams come from personal experience. "I lived in Brazil for a year and a half," Randy says. "This song and lyrics commemorates my intense love for Brazil." He plays chromatic harmonica on this. The vocal interlude by Natasha Haynes adds tile extra something to the mix.

My Love was written specifically for Randy by his friend, Lanny Smith. It is a musical conversation between a man and his wife. There are multiple chromatic harmonicas performing simultaneously throughout this performance.

Jamaica Jam finds Randy pulling out his Golden Melody for a decidedly adventure in harmonica expression beyond anything Little Walter explored. "I perform a lot of reggae music. Here is our smooth jazz meets reggac. Hats off to Lee Oscar for his inspiration." The tune is played on a Hohner Golden Melody key of A.

"The Man is an R&B song written about a relationship with my Czech girlfriend which ended abruptly. I sing it and all the male harmony vocals." Chromatic harmonica.

Bells of Venice was written about his love of Europe and recorded in Germany. "Imagine yourself on a gondola when you listen to this," Randy offers. Chromatic harmonica.

The Way to Love. " I wrote this because a friend of mine lied to me," Randy says. "I wanted to express my feelings about the importance of keeping one's word." This is a vocal song with country harp sound, Golden Melody in key of C. (See more about country tuning in the interview section.)

Infinite Love is recorded with a full band. "This song was written for a sax player by my friend Magrus Borges, but I decided to record it for myself," he says. Chromatic harmonica.

Esperanca was written by Randy's producer."This song is our plea for peace on this planet in our time," he says. Golden Melody key of D.

Love Song was originally recorded by Elton John. " I used to sing this as a teenager and always wanted to record it," he says. "Imagine walking up a mountain for this song." G Golden Melody.

Feelings. "My mother's favorite song, updated for today," Randy says. Chromatic.

Now's the Time. "This is a live recording," Randy says. "We happened to have a minidisc recording one of our festival gigs and the performance was captured. We decided to put it on the CD even though it was a two-track recording. We added nothing to the mix except a very high keyboard string line. I wrote the lyrics to express that love needs more love." Chromatic.

Jamaica Jam (Rasta mix). "This was the original mix of Jamaica Jam, but we decided to redo it in a more sophisticated way. We decided to release both versions," Randy says. Golden Melody key of D

"It is my dream to release this CD, it his taken me almost four years to record it and his been quite a journey. It was pro- fessionally mastered by Mike Fuller, one of the top mastering engineers in the USA - he does dozens of top selling CDs each year. I highly recommend the mastering process. "Discmakers did a flawless job in the CD replication and cd cover design. Ask for Veronica. It was so much joy to make a CD and put the harmonica in compositional and performance contexts that do not normally call for the harmonica. I wanted to make a CD for non-harmonica players as well as harmonica players. I hope I have succeeded."

This CD is designed to compete with the standards of major label releases for the Contemporary Jazz Market. Even though there is harmonica on 80 percent of the CD, it is not a harmonica CD per se. It is a CD designed to market the harmonica to the smooth jazz designated market.

"It is a very personal CD, each song is about a certain phase in my life and each song develops into the next." Randy says. "It is my dream to hear This CD that has been in my head for so many years. It was wonderful placing the harp in musical contexts which would not normally call the instrument.

"Anyway, just trying to make the world safer for harmonica players."

American Harmonica Newsmagazine asked Randy Phil Lloyd's universal harmonica artist set of questions, the same ones he uses regardless of key, time signature or position.

How did you come to play the harp?
At the age of 13, when I started, I thought it was lonely and needed a friend.

What attracted you to the instrument?
Sound and portability. I was a nomad and it never left my side.

What were your harp influences?
Charlie McCoy, Lee Oskar, Howard Levy, Tools, Bonfiglio.

What did you take from these influences?
Tone and rhythmic accuracy, improvisation. We should improvise as if the music were written and read music as if it were improvised.

How is your playing the same?
I can mimic them, but I am questing my own voice.

Different from these influences?
I mix them up. I try to play my diatonics on chromatic tunes and vice versa

Do you take your influences from other than harp players?
Yes, of course.

Do you tongue block, U-block or lip purse?
Lip purse.

Do you play harps tight from the box?
No.

Do you work on your own harps or have a tech work on them?
I do the diatonics. Dick Gardner does my chroms.

If you work on your own harps, what kind of work do you do on them?
Just gapping and tuning.

Do you re-tune, tune up (get harp in tune)?
Ye s.

Do you use any special tuned harps?
I like to tune some of my Golden Melodys to the country tuning (5th hole draw is tuned to F# instead of F natural on C harp.)

Steve Baker Special tuned harps/ minor tuned?
I have some Lee Oskar minor harps.

Magic Dick tuned harps?
He owns the tuning - Do I need a license to play his harps? Just kidding!)

Do you play valved diatonics?
No.

Do you use overblows?
Yes

Do you play any other instruments?
I sing and play rock guitar

If you knew then how difficult the harp was to play when you first started would you still have gone ahead?
Without a doubt, I would.

Do you read or write music?
Yes

How to you go about writing songs?
I either bear a beat and let my music flow or else I intense about something and let it write itself

What comes first, the tune or lyrics?
The tune.

Do other songs inspire you to write similar songs? ( a head or chord change from another tune?)
No, but I could do this easily

Does a lick or riff from a tune sometimes give you an idea?
I hope not.

How long have you been playing harp?
33 years.

How often do you play out? How many nights/days a year?
About four times a week or more.

Do you always play with your own band?
I play solo, duo and I leave a band. I use tricks in my solo/duo gigs.

Do you do much sideman giging?
About 30 percent. I do all of the sessions here in South Florida.

What's your favorite part of touring?
Nothing to do but do the show at night, and practice the harp during the day. I also love to explore the city that I am in.

Un-favorite
Trying to find healthy food.

How can AHN evaders (and others,) obtain a copy of "Harmonica Dreams"?
On my Website or you can write to:

RANDY SINGER
2077 Discovery Circle East
Deerfield Beach, Fl 33442

Cost: $15 plus $2 shipping

Anything else you would like to tell the AHN readers?
I have limited edition Harmonica Dreams harmonicas from Hohner. I have 100 custom harps in file key of C, beginner harps but They play great. They are engraved with my logo. Available for a limited time, they are $5 apiece. I usually sell my CD for $15 or $20 if they want a harmonica.