Review - B.D. Lenz : Hit It and Quit It November 28, 2009 - Bernard Davidson Lenz (more known as B.D. Lenz) is no ordinary guitarist, as he has a background in mathematics. So when you blend the maths’ logic to that of music, you end up with tracks composed and arranged in a quite precise and structured way. B.D. Lenz’s sixth album, ‘’Hit It and Quit’’ is an interesting project exploring sounds and musical arrangements nurtured by the influences of guitar masters Pat Metheny, Mike Stern (with whom he studied) and Steve Ray Vaughan. The result is a collection of nine original compositions shattering the boundaries of various musical genres and fusing contemporary jazz, rock (Lenz’s earlier influences such as rock luminaries Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix among others), funk, soul and blues. The New Jersey-based musician is backed up by a quartet of confirmed musicians such as well-sought after pianist/keyboardist and actor Nick Rolfe, the NBC’s Late Show bassist Will Lee, experienced drummer Joe Rosenblatt (a former member of Spyro Gyra) and intuitive saxophonist Geoff Mattoon. The overall performance of the band on the album is solid and consistent; the musical and rhythmic arrangements are well crafted. Furthermore, Lenz’s compositions are attention-grabbing, because he is not a selfish musician and as a band leader, gives a lot of room for improvisation and solos to his quartet. Indeed, most of his tracks are a structured balance between collective playing and solos and create a rich musical environment for the musicians to express themselves as a band and as soloists.
The first track ‘’H-Town’’ fuses rock, contemporary and straight ahead jazz highlighted by Nick Rolfe’s classy piano featuring a great horn section. ‘’Pilly’’ is a bouncy track, where Lenz’s guitar chops mingle with great solos from Nick Rolfe’s Hammond-sounding piano and Joel Rosenblatt’s dynamic drums. ‘’Hit It and Quit ‘’ is a melodic hard rock/jazz composition, where the interplay between collective parts and solos works again very well highlighting Geoff Matoon’s energetic saxophone. The fourth track of the album, ‘’No Regrets’’ gave me some regrets, because, although the track is an interesting melodic composition, it sounds too much like a Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays track without this great duo’s creative musical colors and moods. ‘’Higher Law’’ comes back to a more straight-ahead jazz form, ‘’We Share a Secret’’ is an emotional journey swinging between melancholy and joy. ‘’Sympathy for the Common Man’’ creates an atmosphere of intimacy and serenity with the nice interplay of Lenz’s acoustic guitar and Mattoon’s soulful sax. ‘’Truth Is A Temple’’ is Lenz’s first-ever solo guitar tune, which he defines as ‘’impressionistic’’. ‘’Fi’Fo’’ closes the album with a jazz-rock fusion sound in the vein of Mike Stern.
To sum it up, ‘’Hit It And Quit’’ is a rich musical cocktail hard to classify. However, Lenz’s influences (Metheny, Stern and Vaughan) are too visible on few tracks. It is a pity, because the musician, besides being a gifted rock/contemporary jazz guitarist, is a consummate composer and has honed his own tone with his precise guitar chops and licks. – by Akbar Nour
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November 28, 2009 - Bernard Davidson Lenz (more known as B.D. Lenz) is no ordinary guitarist, as he has a background in mathematics. So when you blend the maths’ logic to that of music, you end up with tracks composed and arranged in a quite precise and structured way. B.D. Lenz’s sixth album, ‘’Hit It and Quit’’ is an interesting project exploring sounds and musical arrangements nurtured by the influences of guitar masters Pat Metheny, Mike Stern (with whom he studied) and Steve Ray Vaughan. The result is a collection of nine original compositions shattering the boundaries of various musical genres and fusing contemporary jazz, rock (Lenz’s earlier influences such as rock luminaries Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix among others), funk, soul and blues. The New Jersey-based musician is backed up by a quartet of confirmed musicians such as well-sought after pianist/keyboardist and actor Nick Rolfe, the NBC’s Late Show bassist Will Lee, experienced drummer Joe Rosenblatt (a former member of Spyro Gyra) and intuitive saxophonist Geoff Mattoon. The overall performance of the band on the album is solid and consistent; the musical and rhythmic arrangements are well crafted. Furthermore, Lenz’s compositions are attention-grabbing, because he is not a selfish musician and as a band leader, gives a lot of room for improvisation and solos to his quartet. Indeed, most of his tracks are a structured balance between collective playing and solos and create a rich musical environment for the musicians to express themselves as a band and as soloists. 
The first track ‘’H-Town’’ fuses rock, contemporary and straight ahead jazz highlighted by Nick Rolfe’s classy piano featuring a great horn section. ‘’Pilly’’ is a bouncy track, where Lenz’s guitar chops mingle with great solos from Nick Rolfe’s Hammond-sounding piano and Joel Rosenblatt’s dynamic drums. ‘’Hit It and Quit ‘’ is a melodic hard rock/jazz composition, where the interplay between collective parts and solos works again very well highlighting Geoff Matoon’s energetic saxophone. The fourth track of the album, ‘’No Regrets’’ gave me some regrets, because, although the track is an interesting melodic composition, it sounds too much like a Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays track without this great duo’s creative musical colors and moods. ‘’Higher Law’’ comes back to a more straight-ahead jazz form, ‘’We Share a Secret’’ is an emotional journey swinging between melancholy and joy. ‘’Sympathy for the Common Man’’ creates an atmosphere of intimacy and serenity with the nice interplay of Lenz’s acoustic guitar and Mattoon’s soulful sax. ‘’Truth Is A Temple’’ is Lenz’s first-ever solo guitar tune, which he defines as ‘’impressionistic’’. ‘’Fi’Fo’’ closes the album with a jazz-rock fusion sound in the vein of Mike Stern.
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