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Our Review

Here is something creative and fun for the holidays. Lords a Leaping: Volume II is an eclectic group of largely original tunes penned and performed by a group of talented musician pals in Central Pennsylvania. First, let me address those thorny questions that you are dying to ask. Yes, there was a Volume I (recorded in 2002 by essentially the same group). No, Volume I is no longer available. Yes, you should be very pleased that Volume II IS available, and it is a humdinger.

John Cimino (singer, songwriter, guitar & bass) appears to be the moving force behind these folks; he's the bassist for the nationally-recognized One Less Tear band (find out more at www.onelesstear.com). His excellent support includes drummer Michael Hughes, keyboards man Brett Albert, trumpeter Kevin Roessner, and vocalists Adam and Jennifer Bell. For good measure, these leaping lords throw in the New Life Tabernacle Choir (from Greensburg, PA).

So do you like rock music? Pop? Jazz? Country? Well, good! Because there's a little bit of everything on this fascinating album, and it is all done well. Of the dozen cuts, only two are inventive arrangements of traditional Christmas classics ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen"). Almost everything else flows from the fresh and fantastic mind of Cimino (7 tracks)(Adam Bell contributes 2 new numbers). This album is honestly all over the map, but the topography is always compelling. The holiday rock anthems here include Cimino's "Christmas Is Near" and Jennifer Bell's haunting vocal on "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen." The opening "That Christmas Feeling" is pure pop--upbeat and sweetly memorable. Jazzy sentiments ooze from "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Adam Bell's catchy "Reconcile" is a folk/rock treasure. "The Greatest Gift" is a gritty country number about Christmas Day, founded upon great guitar and bass support.

My favorite numbers? They are Cimino's jumpin' "Santa Boogie," which is a swingin' piece of jazz with big band harmonies, and his "Magical" with precious lyrics and Jennifer Bell's heartrending vocal.

If you haven't been through Central Pennsylvania in a few years, driving those lonely and endless miles along I-80, imagine that you are heading through that lovely (though somewhat isolated) area, and you have cranked your car windows down (of course, we almost never literally "crank" anymore; it's all at the press of a button). That wonderful, distinctive, and very creative sound rising from the hills emanates from the leaping lords, and their Volume II is excellent compensation for your trip. Enjoy!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

John Cimino: guitar, bass, vocals
Brett Albert: keyboards
Jennifer Bell: vocals
Adam Bell: vocals, guitar
Michael Hughes: drums, percussion
Kevin Roessner: trumpet
John Wagoner: guitar

Featuring:
New Life Tabernacle Choir, Greensburg, PA

Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by John Wagoner
Recorded October 8-10, 2004 at Philipsburg-Osceola Area Junior High.

From the Web site:

John Cimino knew at a young age that he wanted to write music. "When I was 8 or 9," he reminisced, "Some of my friends and I had a band called "The Bell Ringers." I played the ukulele, my friend Doug played the 3-string guitar, and our drummer banged on popcorn tins. We had a song called 'Diaper Rash' (no kidding!). We were pretty cutting-edge as far as 9-year-olds go."

In college, John took his songwriting more seriously, writing songs in a notebook while playing with weekend bar bands in the Central Pennsylvania area.

In 1998, he and a friend (who played the drums) wrote songs for fun and called the project "Thunderbox," which is the Australian term for an outhouse. The songs "Rubber Band" and "Tell Me The Truth" are products of that collaboration. In 1999, John paired up with drummer Mike Hughes in the talented but short-lived rock band, SEVEN. "We were the best band that nobody came to hear," he added. However, the pair formed a musical friendship, often getting together between gigs to write or arrange songs, or to give feedback. After the band split in 2001, Hughes turned his attention to his own writing. Cimino, meanwhile, got back to work writing songs for his own project. "When it came time to pick a name for the project, I kept coming back to Thunderbox, so that became the name by default, really."

Central Pennsylvania Artists

Lords a Leaping: Volume II

Artist link

Track List