Americana, by definition, embodies the ethos of American roots music. This may draw images of an acoustic guitar in the hands of a semi-cynical singer on stage reflecting a sense of elevated poetry. In modern times, however, Americana, or even alt-country for that matter, has begun to embody a more Kerouacian journey reflecting against the coast-to-coast miles of asphalt, mountains, and rolling plains; or at least it should.

New York-based singer-songwriter Bill Scorzari has spent his three previous independently released records demonstrating his prowess in modern Americana/Alt-Country and shows no signs of slowing in his newest release, The Crosswinds of Kansas.

Scorzari’s vocals immediately grab hold of your attention with this or any of his previous work, bleeding with honesty and conviction while gravelly capturing your imagination, even being called the “equivalent of the Boss Trucking Company driving a dump truck of gravel up to the Waits Foundry.” The mixed textures of Crosswinds spellbind with the requisite dobro, fiddle/violin, slide, lap steel, banjo, upright bass, and electric guitar, but soar on the Native American percussions, Native flutes, Tibetan Singing Bowl Bell, and even plastic hands. The Crosswinds of Kansas is a justification of the physical medium that will have you diving into the lyrics, the assemblies, and contributions of each of the thirteen tracks. Unexpectedly, the tracks we looked forward to pale in comparison to others you discover in your time with the record in a testament to the collective artistry and vision of Scorzari and supporting fifteen musicians. It is meticulously drawn from the experiences, emotionally-fueled then executed as naturally as the sunset across the plains or the water falling over Multnomah Falls.  

Bill Scorzari is more than Americana or some offshoot of country. It is as if he has his hands in the land itself, feeling the pulse, the pain, the release in the landscape as much as his incredibly introspective tales. If it feels I’m unashamedly praising Scorzari it’s because I am. He is a songwriter, years from now the next mainstream rock success will reference as a turning point discovery in their life. To review Bill Scorzari seems counter-intuitive. Scorzari’s music reflects against your own experiences and draws varying gravity to each. It makes sense to the roads you’ve travelled and the emotions you’ve felt. It is precisely that connection that makes Bill Scorzari more than a singer-songwriter, he is a modern gem and deserves to recognized as such. The Crosswinds of Kansas is no exception, it is yet another exhibit to reinforce the sentiment. To reference “Not Should Have Known,” “What if I knew, not should have known?” Well now you know and there’s no excuse to check out The Crosswinds of Kansas when it’s released August 19, 2022.