JOHN PHILBRICK & STEVE MAGGIORA (Toto) – If You Say So (2023)
Skilled guitarist JOHN PHILBRICK, whose L.A. session work led him to meet future collaborators – producers Justin Gariano and Dusty Schaller (Evanescence, Evaride, Reignwolf) – and vocalist / keyboardist Steve Maggiora (Toto), is releasing debut album titled ”If You Say So”.
Recorded & mixed by Grammy-winning Ross Hogarth (Van Halen, Doobie Brothers), and mastered by Grammy-winning Richard Dodd (Tom Petty, Boz Scaggs), the album offers a showcase for Philbrick’s strong sonwriting and eclectic guitar style – influenced from Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses to Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman and Jason Becker.
And of course we have the stupendous lead vocals of STEVE MAGGIORA, current Toto keyboardist / background vocalist.
The album also abounds with the some of the industry’s top session players: drummers Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth), Randy Cooke (Smash Mouth, Alanis Morissette), and Dylan Howard (Dorothy); bassists Tim Landers (Steve Smith, Billy Cobham), Gregg Cash (Dorothy), and Travis Carlton (Larry Calton) and many more.
All that Philbrick influences are present over the album, with songs ranging from classic hard rock and blues to classic rock and pop. Maggiora, a veteran session player and top-notch singer, provides the vocal accompaniment to Philbrick’s roaring riffage, which ranges from the King Kobra-meets-AC/DC opener “Angles” featuring big vocals, to the soulful classic rock feel of “Losing Out to Crazy,” with its loping Santana-like guitar riffs.
The sensuous midtempo rocker “Took Me by Surprise” delivers a searing Clapton-esque solo midway through, a great classic rock number with clean-power vocals by Maggiora, which also play Hammond there.
The Seventies inspired rocker ‘Get There’ is driven by a killer riff – Philbrick shine, also with the solos and his terrific set up sound here similar to Steve Lukather.
The bluesy side is well-represented with the retro upbeat “More of Nothing”, the huge “Lovesick Warrior”, and “Stand” which has a Gary Moore touch all over it that climaxes with Maggiora’s blood-curdling performance. “Not Enough” is a rock ‘n’ roll anthem with a buzzsaw guitar solo at its center, with the title track is an atmospheric rocker with everything in between.
Very strong songs is the core of “If You Say So”, plus the really good performances from Philbrick / Maggiora and all these talented musicians, while production / mix is excellent.
Highly Recommended
01 – Angles
02 – Losing Out To Crazy
03 – Get There
04 – Took Me By Surprise
05 – Guinness (Better Off Alone)
06 – More Of Nothing
07 – Lovesick Warrior
08 – Fooled
09 – Not Enough
10 – Stand
11 – If You Say So
Lead and Backing Vocals, Keyboards – Steve Maggiora
Guitar – John Philbrick
Bass – Tim Landers, Gregg Cash, Travis Carlton
Drums – Gregg Bissonette, Randy Cooke, Dylan Howard
Background Vocals – Adryon Leon, Dedrick Bonner, Kenna Ramsey
Cello – Dave Eggar
Violin and Viola – Sean Claire, Jessica Ryou, Diego Nunez
Double Bass – Brandon Sturgill
String Arrangement and Orchestration – Dave Eggar
Additional String Orchestration – Phil Faconti
BUY
www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8GXCX3Y
