There's a quote credited to Frank Zappa that often pops up in blogs and forum postings: "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Words rarely do the job, but a limited vocabulary of adjectives and stabs at articulating the concept of "Wow!" are all we have when we try to come up with a compelling reason for someone to listen. Every once in awhile a CD comes along that defies description. There is some intangible thing that goes straight for the gut level grab - you hear it and it lights you up. Given that, Radiant is the perfect title for Steve Oliver's latest release. It's the word that comes closest to describing the effect of this music.

For his fourth CD, Steve Oliver chose a simpler, more intimate approach: guitar and voice with a rhythm section to keep it tight, but without big production effects or embellishment. This simplicity is deceptive, though. These songs are so catchy and melodic and he plays so effortlessly that the complexity of the guitar work grabs your ears unexpectedly. Listen to the last part of "Reach for the Sky" or the flashy flamenco runs on "Good to Go." Like Craig Chaquico, Steve Oliver takes the sound of an acoustic guitar far beyond traditional expectations.

Oliver wrote all but one of the songs on Radiant. Most of them feature keyboardist/co-producer Michael Broening, a founding member of the contemporary/fusion band Turning Point, who produced Marion Meadows' most recent CDs, and Mel Brown on bass. With guitar and trademark vocalese up front, they seamlessly and joyously blend elements pop, jazz, folk/rock, Latin, funk, trance, and anything else Oliver -- a self confessed "CD-aholic" whose listening habits are not bound by genre -- may have picked up along the way.  There is a pretty even balance between mellow and up-tempo grooves, with some songs starting soft and kicking it up several notches as they build. “Feelin' Good" starts off subdued but turns into a breezy playoff between guitar, keyboard and voice. "Tradewinds" is graceful and serene. "Across The Water," an acoustic ballad, features some jazzy riffing from Spyro Gyra keyboard wizard Tom Schuman. "Shadow of the Moon," with its loops, atmospheric layers and moody trumpet solo, is an experiment in chill where the music doesn’t get overshadowed by the technology. "Good To Go" reminds me of some Acoustic Alchemy songs with a little early Ottmar Liebert thrown in. This is the track where he really cuts loose on guitar, playing flamenco fusion speed runs all over the fretboard and scatting along as the song breaks into a percussion driven jam in the middle. The funky, danceable "Cool" features a cool sax solo from Michael Paulo, a veteran player who should be a star by now. The last two instrumentals on the CD, "Shine" and “Reach for the Sky” are vintage Steve Oliver: bright, infectious, and catchy.

There are three vocals on Radiant. Smooth jazzers aren't going to be able to keep this artist to ourselves, he has grown into a simply brilliant singer/songwriter who can hold his own on the same field as artists like John Mayer, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Josh Kelly and David Wilcox.  He has a clear, expressive voice with just enough roughness to give it some presence and the guy can write! "Bend or Break" was the first song I heard from this CD. It was on Steve's myspace.com page and I played it about 30 times in a row before the computer froze up. It's everything a great adult-oriented pop song should be musically and lyrically. "Radiant Dreams" is a rarity, a song that will make you think "he knows me" instead of wondering who or what it was written about. That is his gift as a writer. He can take things you are feeling or going through but can't quite get a grip on and he nails it in one sentence and clarifies it in a verse. One song is bouncy, the other is deep. They are both great places to run for shelter. "For What It's Worth" shows his originality as an interpreter. When you hear him sing it, you don't hear a cover of an oldie, you hear the song and realize how relevant it still is.  

Radiant is a must-have. It’s a startlingly fresh and original piece of work that never defaults to format or formula. There are no throwaway songs, each track is a part of the journey and this is a journey that will light you up. Steve Oliver loves to write, he loves to play, he loves to perform and that vibe is all over this music. It’s truly Radiant.

- Shannon West