Michael John Mollo

Taking a page right out of the Keller Williams playbook is singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael John Mollo and his latest effort Many Faces. The album shows off Mollo’s work with a full brass band, a jazz-fusion band and on his own solo acoustic work, but comes off like a glorified sampler that someone might send to a club to get a booking. There is no real flow, as Mollo jumps around, and rather adequately, demonstrates his proficiency in a number of styles. The strongest stuff here is when he’s laying down a groove with Spaghetti Belly on "I Dreamed," "Trypnojive" and "Bookends."

His solo work on the other hand is extremely derivative of Keller - down to the beat boxing and guitar tone. And while his musicianship is strong, his songwriting comes off rather sophomoric. Mollo is a young musician who is just starting out and should mature in time. He’s the got the chops down so keep and eye out for him.