The Signal's Stephen K. Peeples -- B.K. Diaz Pursues, Finds Happiness with New Album

The dozen songs — all Diaz originals but Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound" — come from the perspective of someone who's been around long enough to understand that "love isn't everything/it's the only thing," as he writes in "The Only One." He knows "The Pursuit of Happiness" is about the pursuit of love, and cherishing it when you find it.

Diaz' singing style — echoing Dylan, Springsteen, maybe a little B.W. Stevenson — is powerful and heartfelt. He makes use of at least a couple octaves; his lead vocal on "Anyhow Anyway," ironically a kiss-off song to a former lover, is especially notable. Diaz' playing is soulful if not technically perfect on a variety of instruments, including acoustic guitar, Hammond B-3, piano and percussion.

James LoMenza, Diaz' coproducer and chief collaborator, also handles bass on all tracks except "Anyway Anyhow" (played by Ron DiBuccio) and contributes guitar, mandolin, percussion and backing vocals throughout the album. Drummer Ray Luzier and electric guitarist Toshi Hiketa round out the basic band.

Adding backing vocals to four tracks is Diaz' wife Debbi, a longtime performer on Dick Clark's "Dancin' Machine" with many other TV, stage and recording credits. Diaz' son Matt plays drums on "Anyway Anyhow," which also features Jeff Johnson on guitar.

Diaz released the album on his independent Gem Star label at the end of May, with the opening track, the mid-tempo Latin-flavored "Magdalena," already released as the advance single. This week (ending July 1), the single moved into the Top 20 on New Music Weekly's A/C 40 and into the Top 10 on NMW's Indie Hot A/C list.

"The Pursuit of Happiness" isn't perfect — the funky cover of "Homeward Bound" is the only real misfire — but the heart and soul that went into creating it make it rise above its imperfections. A marked improvement on Diaz' eponymous 2003 debut, it's a solid home-grown effort with world-class potential.

"The Pursuit of Happiness" is available in music stores and online at Amazon.com and TowerRecords.com.

Stephen K. Peeples, a music journalist since 1975, is also a Grammy-nominated record producer and an award-winning radio writer and producer.