Do you ever hit play and wonder, “What'll this be"? Are you sometimes a skeptic?
I’ll tell you what’s going on here. Do you like: “Not a wasted note / Not a wasted word"? Do you like “Message"? Do you like “Timeless”? Do you like “Soul”? And what about “Real”?
Joe could make you cry even if he were singing a vintage phone book. But THIS thing has more hooks than a fisherman’s convention. And along with that, it’s the messages…Please do yourself a favor. And listen. -Larry Salzman
has performed and/or recorded with Simon and Garfunkel, Bette Midler, David Johansen, Shawn Colvin, Jewel, The Brecker Brothers, The Blue Nile, Chris Botti and many, many others. His guitar playing is featured on several Grammy Award winning CDs, and on the score of Martin Scorsese's Academy Award winning film "The Departed".
Impressive batch of tunes-great drumming too! "Reasons" & "Healing Hand" stand out. The music reminds me of my days with Dylan and some of the opening acts he had like Steve Earle. You and Joe make a very musical team! The textures and instrumental voices are so integral to the lyrics which are sung so soulfully by JC.Love it!-Chris Parker, drummer Bob Dylan, SNL and numerous other prominent artists. https://www.chrisparkerdrums.com/
The Distant Thunder is one powerful beast. It's a breath of fresh air to hear a modern classic. You prove the adage of fine cooking; when you have the right ingredients it’s hard to go wrong and you didn’t go wrong. Joe’s vocals are, as always, amazing and the songs are able to stand up to the brute force of the production. It's honest and inspiring work. Thanks for a great listen. -Jake Holmes Hall of Fame Songwriter songs covered by Led Zepplin (Dazed and Confused), Frank Sinatra, and many others
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Holmes
I just listened to every song in order and then Healing Hands again. I'm floored; this is great American music, period. I love it. Wow! - Josh Abbey…Multiple credits including engineer Bob Dylan, Aerosmith, Robert Palmer, Chic, Chaka Kahn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/josh-abbey-mn0000276234/credits
I’m amazed by how impactful these songs are. Real rootsy American music at its most authentic. -Jon Cobert…keyboard player John Lennon, Harry Chapin among many others https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Cobert
Marc Blatte and Joe Cerisano’s band Distant Thunder is an Americana, High five-deep dive! Their songs are a panorama of life lessons both serious and off the cuff whose melodies stick with lyrics you can read your history in.- Billy Siedman author. https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Song-Craft-Contemporary-Songwriters/dp/1493047655/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3820JCK3QS9XB&dchild=1&keywords=billy+seidman&qid=1607843836&sprefix=billy+siedman%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1
Keep up the great work! Put the Gun Down is epic.-Steve Addabbo, producer Sean Colvin, Suzanne Vega https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Addabbo
"Marc and Joe have delivered a superb collection of rootsy American rock and blues in the tradition of the classic American masters-- songs that will stick in your mind and linger in your heart the way the best songs always do."-Gary Lucas composer/song-writer producer credits include, work with Jeff Buckley and Captain Beefheart www.garylucas.com
"It was always a joy to work with Joe & Marc and revel in their explosive, creative talents. It’s all on display in this brilliant new CD of songs. “The Distant Thunder” is the perfect metaphor for the energy they created in a sonic boom."-Michael Golub, engineer for many artists including Stephen Stills, Judy Collins, and the recent Tony-winning Broadway original cast album of The Life of the Temptations.
I’m blown away by what these two have cooked up. -Dave Fields (Big City Rhythm & Blues magazine) New York Hall of Fame guitarist-songwriter.
https://www.davefields.com/
Great songs - melodic, hooky, and with a lot of heart. Joe’s vocals are soulful and evocative.-Robbie Kondor Multiple credits including composer/arranger/instrumentalist for Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Carol King https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Kondor
“I’ve known Joe Cerisano for a long time as a very soulful guy, but his vocals on this record come from deep in his heart in a way I haven’t heard before. The songs are touching and powerful, particularly “Healing Hand”, and the whole album is a good listen. Kudos to Marc and Joe for the instrumental and vocal settings.”-Seth Glassman, has worked with many artists including James Brown, Paul McCartney, Kurtis Blow, Aaron Neville, Elvis Costello, Brian Wilson, Dr. John, Hall and Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Carole King. www.sethglassman.com
Congratulations on what is clearly a milestone. Just listened to the whole thing through. It's very powerful stuff. The singer is great. The tunes are great. -Richard Hunter harp player and author of the world’s best-selling method for jazz and rock harmonica players, Jazz Harp (Oak Publications, NYC) http://www.hunterharp.com/
A huge virtual round of applause for Distant Thunder using their voice at a perfect moment in time here on “Healing Hand” – I’ve got nothing else but love and appreciation for a song executed as well as this is. From concept to performance – they’ve nailed it here…and there’s not a thing about it I’d change. -Sleeping Bag Blogger
Just great!!!- Larry Gottlieb, Grammy winner Best Country Song Grammy Nominee Best R&B Song. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Gottlieb
Great songs that make their stories come alive and powerful performances that let the music make an instant emotional connection come together on what is surely one of my favorite records of the year. -David Wolfert…Hit songwriter, producer, guitar player for Dolly Parton and many others. http://www.davidwolfert.com/
These wonderful songs sound as if they belong together, as a cohesive album. I dug listening to them, one by one. Beautifully written, beautifully sung. Sending you big time congratulations. And thanks for sharing your babies with me. -Clint Deganon https://www.yamaha.com/artists/clintdeganon.html
