Larry Murante

Dirty Linen Review
June/July, 2001 vol. #94

Seattle songwriter Larry Murante has a lot going for him. He has a rich pliable voice and is an accomplished acoustic guitarist whose strong rhythmic playing underlies his tuneful melodies. As a lyricist, Murante tells compelling stories about real life, be it the armed homeless man in "Streets Of Seattle," the tale of an alcoholic landlady in "Katie's House," or the story of the little dog who acted far bigger in "Chumstick Show." The bass/drum/electric and acoustic guitar backing is solid, with guests like John Reischman on mandolin and Orville Johnson on Dobro. - Dirty Linen

Victory Music Review
Larry Murante: Point of Entry
Independent Release; Weeping Wood Music - LM1513;  www.larrymurante.com
At long last, Point of Entry is ready to take home, so pour yourself a glass of wine and get comfortable because you're going to want to enjoy this in one sitting. Engaging and direct in live performance, Larry Murante's soaring vocals bring a decor to every song that when combined with his panache for storytelling grabs and holds your complete attention. I have longed to tuck his words in my pocket for further examination somewhere down the road, so this fresh third release from this sterling Seattle singer/song writer is as welcome as the long-awaited spring. Murante is the kind of word crafter that doesn't come along every day. His clever turns of phrase, colorfully painted descriptions and surprising plot twists create compelling story lines that are supported by a smooth, balanced melodic delivery. There is strength, power and definition in each musical arrangement. Murante also draws upon the musical talent of some of Seattle's finest musicians; TJ Morris is exquisite on drums/percussion in "More Than He Knows" and "I Still Think of You.” Alicia Healey adds beautiful depth and a measure of heartache with her sensitively delivered background vocals in "Dry Rain, Calm Wind.” It could be timing or a bit of just what the doctor ordered, but Point of Entry touches a chord with me every time I hear it and each musician had to have been at the absolute top of their game while recording this one. A strong partner in this production, multi-instrumentalist Hans York adds a rich fullness to every thing he touches. A beautiful told story drawn from a historic account, "Mrs. Crouch" has a fascinating personal connection and Murante tells it with loving sweetness. The added backup of Greg Fulton on mandolin and wailing slide guitar make this story come to life. "The Big D" is in some ways painfully honest and revealing, regretful yet comfortable and ironically, filled with universal acceptance and familiarity. Murante has the uncanny ability to not only recognize certain elements of human nature but is also able to articulate the actions, emotions and hidden meanings that became so entangled as a result. His language is his music and his music will touch your mind, heart and soul when you give him a "point of entry.” Make a point to attend one of his CD release concerts and pick up a copy. (Nancy Vivolo) - Victory Review Magazine

Seattle singer-songwriter Larry Murante’s long-anticipated second CD was certainly worth the wait. It’s an impressive collection of vivid character sketches and cinematic stories that show clearly why Murante has recently taken top honors in so many song contests, including Wildflower (winner ‘99), Falcon Ridge (finalist ‘99), Tumbleweed (winner ‘98, finalist ‘99), and Lakewood’s own LakeFolkFest (top-5 winner, ‘98). Some of the winning songs are here, including the title track, a sensitive portrait of an insensitive man seen through the admiring eyes of his young fishing partner, who senses some of the vulnerability beneath the tough exterior. And “Streets of Seattle,” a multi-layered mini-epic about a standoff between the police and a sword-wielding troubled soul in a downtown parking garage.
Other standouts are “Katie’s House,” a bluesy groove which features some extremely tasty playing by dobro master Orville Johnson, and another contest winner, “Those Days,” a sweet song made all the sweeter by John Reischman’s lovely mandolin lines. There are also some great contributions from David Lange on keys (who also co-produced and engineered the album), and Mike Mattingly and Lee Silberkleit on electric guitars. Of course, the standout performer on the CD is Murante himself, who has a beautiful, smoky, full-bodied voice, and he’s known everywhere he goes for his vocal command and soulful, expressive delivery. Great songs, great arrangements and great performances -- highly recommended. - Victory Music

Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange ?by Mark S. Tucker

This well-developed collection of songs is a potpourri of protestation, quiet observation, passionate gusto, pleasantly eerie urbanism, and around-the-corner topicality. Larry Murante possesses a mellifluous voice that can nonetheless yip and yelp when needed or rise in indignation. He writes, though, in small and large surprises, as in Paul's Song, chronicling a case of mistaken assumption that leads to the narrator deepening his appreciation of the subtleties of the human mind.
Mrs. Crouch introduces a ghostly tale of yet another false preacher, this time one who engenders a string of tragedies that lead to a haunting in the singer's boyhood house, the spectre of a woman deeply wronged and still trying to live life as it should have been. Rather than try for the stereotypical quality of 'touching', Murante chose instead to show an unusual acceptance of the paranormal in a young boy.
Murante has a quality that calls to mind Marc Cohn, Cliff Eberhardt, Iain Matthews, David Wilcox, and the kind of musician that you just can't get enough of, as every aspect of each song is perfection with gentle hooks, mellow instrumentation, a very polished voice, and top-notch production. Had Terence Boylan, Eric Anderson, and a few other folk mainstreamers been as consistent as Larry is here, they would've enjoyed a much better heyday. Point of Entry, in contrast, has staying power and should be finding easy egress into any and all airwaves intelligent enough to know quality when they hear it.
Paul's Song (Murante / Landis)
Dry Rain, Calm Wind (Murante / Landis)
Point of Entry
More than He Knows
Mrs. Crouch
I Still Think of You
The Big D
You're so Smart
Quiet, Cold and Deep
Yes We Can (Murante / York)
- Folk and Music Exchange (FAME)

Dirty Linen Review (1994)

With his soft warm tenor Murante delivers some insightful, socially-conscious songs that tackle a wide range of topics like eco-warriors, the end of the world, techno-fear and the universal theme of love.

Despite themes we've heard before, Murante's lyrics and catchy folk/rock approach set him a few notches above most performers. The love song "Taste Of Your Laughter" has some intriguing lyrics ("Last night I dreamed that 13 iridescent dragonflies, in silver slippers flew counter clockwise loops around your head. They sang your name in seven languages and in pentatonic scales") that immediately capture your attention. His acoustic guitar work is gentle and flowing, never distracting you from his voice, and his accompaniment is minimal on most songs.

Of special note are "Weeping Wood," a homage to the late environmentalist Chico Mendes, and the rollicking "Couch Potato," which describes the feeling of sinking lower into the sludge of bad television (the humor resembles Christine Laven's). Like the description of his father in "Quiet Strength," Kiss Me One More TIme has a quiet strength that makes each and every track a special event. Highly recommended. (JM) - Dirty Linen

“In Larry Murante's second release, he fulfills the role of the yeoman
singer/songwriter as he calls on and presents memories, life events and observations from his and other's lives. The larger question though, as with all artists, is does he make them compelling and interesting? The answer is yes.”
Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews, Kevin McCarthy - Kevin McCarthy

WYMS/Milwaukee Sunday Night Folk Show
DJ Mike Yuhas
Larry Murante-Kiss Me One More Time (1994), Weeping Wood Music
First thing about this CD (among a lot of things, incidentally) I like is Murante's strong vocals and his strong sense of melody. His vocals remind me of Paul Young, but musically, Murante takes more influences from folk rock, although there is a healthy bit of smooth jazz inflections throughout as well. And the songs... the songs keep coming; all of 'em keepers with poetic lyrics and new ways of saying I love only you, with stories and images abounding and hitting subtleties like very few songwriters manage in even their most gifted moments. Seek this one out.
- WYMS/Milwaukee Sunday Night Folk Show

“Larry was a real treat to hear for the first time ... superb writing, performance chops to spare, great playing & a surprising and wonderful voice.”
Marla Brodi,
Northern California Songwriter’s Association - Marla Brodi, Northern California Songwriter's Association

“Larry was a real treat to hear for the first time ... superb writing, performance chops to spare, great playing & a surprising and wonderful voice.”
Marla Brodi,
Northern California Songwriter’s Association - Marla Brodi, Northern California Songwriter's Association