Richie Kotzen - Salting Earth (2017)

Twenty plus one equals twenty-one. 21 or TWENTY-ONE? No matter how you write it out, twenty-one is an impressive number as 21 is what ‘Salting Earth’ is. Richie Kotzen’s 21st solo album. Not many artists can say they’ve released 21 studio albums in their career.

What makes 21 even more impressive is that these 21 solo albums have been issued in a span of just 28 years. Twenty-one does not include live albums, EP’s or compilations released under the banner of Richie Kotzen. Furthermore, twenty-one does not include the albums he has done with Arthur’s Museum, Poison, Greg Howe, Mr. Big, Vertú, Forty Deuce, Wilson Hawk or The Winery Dogs. Say what you want, positive or negative about Richie Kotzen or his music but you can’t deny his recording career has been prolific considering he is only 47 years old! Kotzen began his solo career at the age of 19. Simply prolific!

Three is my lucky number and there seems to be three consistent musical entities in my life, John Corabi, Blackberry Smoke & Richie Kotzen. Add in Buzzy James, Anthony Gomes, Eric Sardinas and John Fogerty & you have my (lucky) seven favorite consistent musical entities. Meaning, pretty much every year, I can expect some sort of new release from them be it a studio album, live album, side project or DVD. My ears are always happy.

Richie’s last solo album ‘Cannibals’ was released in 2015. Since then he promoted his first ever professionally done live DVD, toured with his solo band, wrote, produced, recorded and completed a worldwide touring cycle with his band The Winery Dogs that includes Mike Portnoy on drums & the legendary Billy Sheehan on bass.