Great review of my latest album 'Influential Guidance' in top German music magazine 'Good Times' this week by Uli Twelker.

NICK STEED

INFLUENCIAL GUIDANCE

Master of keys with Colosseum for three years now, Nick Steed’s reputation was founded on jazz rockers Optimystik Visionaries – in their stylistics, his solo debut truly impresses. The fact that Steed flourishes in the orbit of Toto and Steely Dan gets hit home further by hiring their percussionist Lenny Castro. And it’s truly filled with Steed’ s sophisticated song ideas: “Yesterday’s Blues“ lures us into a nostalgic atmosphere by “standing on the corner of Blue Note“. All of this is characterized by Steed‘s clear voice und self-created backing vocal work, where you think you’re listening to at least three ladies. Background is provided by the warm horn section of Mike Smith and Jamie Brownfield ; drummers Greg Morgan and Steve Gibson follow each riff as if hypnotized. The skillful pianist picked evenly matched sparring partners for solo masterworks from his main band: Clem Clempson & Kim Nishikawara feel obviously provoked into achieving top levels on guitar and sax respectively. Heights in catchiness are reached – as well as the elaborate half-time-Shuffle “Luckless Pedestrian“ (the single) – and the beautiful “Suzie“, who is “heading for the big time“! (Playbyhead Records, 8 tracks) utw