Singer – Songwriter Holly Long is living life on a much different Frequency these days and that is the title she chose for her new nine track album. This beautiful collection of songs is masterfully produced by Anthony J.W. Benson and features a host of gifted musicians, which includes an awesome horn section, superb background vocalists; Jennifer Grimm, Aaron Keith Stewart, Kathleen Johnson and Patty Peterson, as well as Holly Long playing the Fender Rhodes on the last song, “Little Blue Ball.” With the intro to Frequency, we hear just that, as we listen in on, faux vintage tuning of an old radio, looking for the right frequency, so the radio station can be heard clearly, something that is, for the most part a foreign concept to many of today’s younger set, who are accustomed to streaming their music online, dialing into the much clearer FM signals and getting their fix for talk and music through satellite radio.

Keyboardist Jason Craft, one of the integral musicians for this booklet of songs, is introduced to us first in the intro and then during the 5:30 of “Shine A Light,” as he creates a vintage groove, while playing the Hammond B3 organ. Mr. Craft sets the table beautifully for Ms. Long as she serves up soulful, emotive vocals, previously not heard, with this kind of vulnerability and impeccable phrasing from a beautiful person, whose very being, finally emerges through her music.

Holly Long reflects upon her song “Shine A Light,” “It is a song that I wrote about connection, between two people, or a crowd in a room, who are sharing an experience. It is the light of connection, the energy that shines through the darkness.  I have discovered, in my mere forty years on the planet, this time around, there is nothing that carries more weight for me. There is not a greater currency than the power and the force of life that comes from connecting and co-mingling energy.”

Anthony J.W. Benson, Ms. Long’s producer weighs in, “The feel of this Frequency was really a natural evolution for Holly, as she is no longer beholden to a record label, and we were free to explore any type of musical style. Holly is such a gifted writer that she can make Metal Polka sing. We explored a vibe that allowed her to move from the Americana influence of her last CD Leaving Kansas and to explore a new and expanded sound, which creates a fuller old school style at times.”

Equally important to the success of the song “Shine A Light,” are the background vocals of Grimm, Stewart, Johnson and Peterson, who give the song a gospel feel and depth.  The horn section consisting of; tenor saxophonist Sue Orfield, baritone saxophonist Kenni Holmen, trombonist Michael Nelson, and trumpeter / flugelhorn player Steve Strand, lift this song and provide a punch, which nicely contrasts with the mellower Hammond B3.

The listener’s body starts to move with the first few bars of “Pretty Picture Frame,” which places the listener in the midst of a funk concert and that feel is owed to the fact that rather than the musicians laying down their tracks separately, they played together in the studio and on the album Frequency. Generally speaking, there are very few overdubs and the takes were minimal. Grammy Award winning sound engineer Tom Tucker, who has worked with Prince, Lucinda Williams, Oleta Adams and Jonny Lang, to name a few, was a key contributor to creating a “live” concert feel for the recording.

“Sentimental Reasons,” which appears as the fourth track on Frequency is in the perfect spot on this album as it is a slower, gentler song and the music provides a nice break from the delicious, yet funkier songs which precede it. Ms. Long’s Carly Simon like vocals on “Sentimental Reasons,” are serenaded beautifully by Steve Strand’s warm, full notes from his flugelhorn, demonstrating once again that this beautiful instrument does not get all of the attention that it deserves.

“Down To Blue,” highlights some elegant Wurlitzer electric piano playing by Jason Craft, an exquisite performance Kenni Holmen, who doubles as a flautist on this song, and heartfelt, sweet vocals from Holly Long.  Ms. Long is never going to overpower you with her vocal performances, yet within her comfort zone, she is powerful, because she knows how to sing from her heart and to stay “in the moment.” Frequency is a stunningly beautiful album. Holly Long’s songwriting is uncluttered, as she paints pretty images, while supported by cast of fabulous musicians. She has surrounded herself with a creative team that “gets it.” They understand what this talented singer and gifted songwriter is all about.

“I wanted to feel the sun on my face, as I sat on that faded, splashy flower picnic blanket my parents used on our weekend trips to the lakeside parks.  I wanted to hear those trippy golden-hued horns blaring from someone else's transistor radio three towels away on the beach.  I wanted to pay homage to the music that opened my ears and created the soundtrack to my everyday life when I was young,” says Holly Long.

That is what she got and we the listeners just get to tag along for the fun ride.