IUMA: Beavers, Tom

TOM BEAVERS "THE VIEW FROM HERE"

TOM BEAVERS IS A VETERAN OF FLORIDA BAR BANDS IN THE 70'S, A SOLO ONE MAN BAND CAREER IN THE 80'S, AND A SONGWRITING FESTIVAL PERFORMER IN THE 90'S. HIS EARLY INFLUENCES WERE JAMES TAYLOR, NEIL YOUNG AND JIMMY BUFFETT. WHEN HE MOVED FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA TO THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST HE CAME IN CONTACT WITH NEW ORLEANS' JAZZ, CAJUN AND ZYDECO, AND DELTA BLUES INFLUENCES. THIS ALBUM ("THE VIEW FROM HERE") IS HOW TOM BLENDS THESE STYLES WITH HIS ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND VOICE BACKED BY HIS BAND. HIS FIRST ALBUM ("BLUE HERON COLLECTION") WAS AREFLECTION OF HIS SOLO PERIOD AND WAS A MORE INTIMATE SET OF SONGS. THE THEMES FROM "THE VIEW" ARE STILL ABOUT THE LOCAL AREA, BUT SHOW A MORE MATURE SONGWRITER WHO MAKES FULL USE OF DIFFERENT RHYTHMS AND INSTRUMENTATION. THIS ALBUM WAS WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY TOM. TOM ALSO DID ALL OF THE VOCALS, MUCH OF THE GUITAR WORK AND EVEN SOME PERCUSSION. "THE VIEW" IS AN UPTEMPO FEEL GOOD ALBUM WITH LOTS OF LOCAL MUSICIANS PARTICIPATING. LOCALLY THE MUSIC IS KNOWN AS SALTWATER BLUES, BUT YOU CAN CAL IT WHAT YOU WANT. IT'S JUST PLAIN GOOD MUSIC.