Alejandro Escovedo is a musician's musician. A songwriter's songwriter. A Chicano Bruce Springsteen? Perhaps. I'm sure that comparison has been made before. What this intimate performance, at a Jewish community center in Freehold, NJ of all places, demonstrated is that this guy should be playing to crowds just as big as those the Boss commands.

Seeing a talent such as Mr. Escovedo and his band the Sensitive Boys up close and personal, plying their trade in a room of 100 people, is the kind of gig you tell your kids you were at. Hearing him road test new material, while being gracious and accommodating when it comes to crowd requests (thank you for playing "Down In The Bowery", and especially "Fort Worth Blue"), and telling wonderful stories about his musical family (Sheila E, The Zeros anybody?) and his life in general made this all the more personal. Alejandro has a way with making you feel like you're sitting in his living room, listening to him and guitarist Dave (I think that is his name) gently pluck away at "Rosalie", then a few moments later moving your ass to an arena and lighting your face on fire with a wicked version of Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane".

Alejandro is a musician you need to see and hear. Period.

Rating 10/10. This guy is too good for you to not be listening to him. - Jay Ingstrup

www.alejandroescovedo.com