It is always exciting to hear new and fresh ways to make music and CenterLine has done it well. Myself being a fan of just about any genre of music, I was deeply fascinated by the way "Bend In The Road" was put together instrumentally and lyrically. Each track has its way of making you feel connected to what CenterLine is doing/saying musically. If you’re a fan of music, you have to get your hands on this creative and refreshing new album by CenterLine!
Demetri - 105.1 The Buzz (afternoons 3 to 7pm) (May 2, 2006)
I did listen (to Bend in the Road) and was knocked out. I put it on in the car last weekend and forgot what I was listening to and my friend said what station are you listening to and I replied KINK, only to look down at the cd player and realize it was you.
Les Sarnoff - morning dj, KINK FM 102 (Mar 6, 2006)
Let me tell you a little bit about CenterLine. Hey, wait a minute! I really don’t know CenterLine all that well. Actually, I know some of them pretty well, and others just a little, but I do know their music and it is great, so I guess that’s all I really need to know. That’s all any of us need to know.
Let me begin with Mark West and his wife, Tammy West (I call them Mr. & Mrs. Excitement). We’ve been close friends for almost 30 years. I still find it hard to believe that when I first met Mark he was barely old enough to take a legal drink. Now he’s about to start receiving Modern Maturity every month for the rest of his life. But the thing is, after all these years, the guy has never changed. You’ll always find him driving 30 miles an hour in the right-hand lane. That’s just the way he goes through life. But Mark is solid. Really solid. He knows what he wants and he pretty much has the answers. Even if sometimes I don’t agree with him, I always respect him. And he’s just as solid musically. He doesn’t get crazy. It’s not a bass player’s job to get crazy. That’s the drummer’s job. No, Mark just puts a bottom on everything and keeps it moving forward with a steady beat — all very tastefully and without any flash. You never really know he’s there, but you sure as hell miss him when he’s not. I know. I’ve played a lot of music with Mark. And I’ve played a lot of music without him. And I’m here to tell you, I really miss him when he’s not there.
Anyway, a few years ago when Mark told me he was playing music with Jon and Angela Greenblatt in a group called CenterLine, I was sure they must be really good people or else he wouldn’t have them as friends and be working with them. And I also knew that whenever I finally met them, they’d become my friends, too. You see, I’ve come to recognize that Mark has good taste in people and I’ve always liked those he called his friends.
I didn’t get a chance to meet Angela and Jon until about five years ago. It was just a quick howdy and a few words at an afternoon barbecue but I do remember them both being very, very nice folks. The kind of people you’d just want to sit around the kitchen table and talk with and maybe play some music with. Well, I’ve haven’t had a chance to play music with them. Not yet, anyway. Some day, though. Meanwhile, they were kind enough to ask me to do the packaging design for their new CD. Well, they’re in Portland, Oregon and I’m in Northern California, so we had to do it all long-distance, but let me tell you, they were terrific to work with. These folks have spoiled me rotten. Mark was agreeable to just about everything. Hell, all he ever wanted to do was get off the phone and go back to The Bob Newhart Show re-runs. Jon, on the other hand, paid close attention to all the details and provided absolutely everything I needed to put it all together. He even highlighted the important parts of his e-mails, included graphs and photos (“... with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one...”) and sent copies of everything to everyone. He gave me all the answers before I could ask the questions. Made my job pretty easy. And the best one of all to work with was Angela. She stayed out of town until everything was done. But she did have some really good suggestions which contributed immeasurably to the final product. I just hope we can do it all again — and real soon.
Needless to say, I was honored when they asked if I’d look at their web site and maybe add a few words. I read what was in the bio section and thought it was OK, but maybe there was a little too much about who influenced each of them. People might get the wrong idea and have expectations. I mean, it’s fine that Jon was influenced by James Taylor, but does he write or sound like James Taylor? Not hardly. He sounds like Jon Greenblatt. The words are Jon Greenblatt’s and they are great. And just because Angela Greenblatt might have been influenced by Bonnie Raitt, is she just like Bonnie Raitt? Not in the least. She’s Angela Greenblatt and she sings like an angel, from her own heart. And then there’s Mark. Just because Mark was a fan of Pee Wee Herman’s, does that mean that he…oh, never mind. Listen, I’m not going to give you any examples of how good the lyrics are or tell you about the wonderful harmonies or how well their voices blend or anything like that. You can download a clip or two and hear for yourself. The fact is, they write, sing and play a number of different instruments. And they do it all really well. As individuals, they’re terrific. Together, they’re superb. I can guarantee you’re really gonna love what you hear.
And, if I know what’s good for me, I’d better mention the fourth member of this trio, Tammy West. You won’t hear her on any of the songs, because she isn’t on any of the songs, but you’ll feel her presence. On the CD package, the group thanks her for “marketing, sound, photography, roadie work, honest criticism and endless energy and loving support.” Tammy is the perfect example of the fact that it takes more than just good musicians to make a good musical group.
It’s just too bad it took CenterLine so long to get together as a band and make a recording. But if we buy their CD now, then we’ll be sure to have a timeless memento of Angela, Jon and Mark . So, here’s to you, CenterLine. Thanks for all the great music.
Rick Grumbecker (Dec 28, 2005)