World events have a way of bringing people together, reinforcing community values, and introducing each of us to our own frailty. It was in the aftermath of such an event that I first encountered Brett Dennen, the voice that led me to believe that no matter what happens in life, music is the key ingredient in the glue that binds humanity together.

Music Heals: A Tsunami Benefit Concert, held on February 22nd 2005 at NYC’s Canal Room, featured the likes of The Bacon Brothers, Toby Lightman, PM Dawn, Duncan Shiek, Lucy Woodward and Men At Work’s Colin Hay. Sandwiched between the all-star line-up (ok, so maybe B-list all stars) was Dennen, a performer to whom I had had absolutely no prior exposure.

I would try to explain those first few minutes during which my ears were filled with his sonic healing, but all I can remember is an intense calm washing over me, quickly followed by a building excitement. I could tell that I was in the presence of a modern day bard the likes of Paul Simon or Arlo Guthrie. Brett is a mass of a man, standing better than six foot, with a mop of crimson hair atop the head where ingenuity resides. One would expect the voice eschewing from such a leviathan to be resonant and bombastic, but this giant is a gentle one. His supple tenor is the perfect match for lyrics that flow with empathetic gusto. That night, Brett gave me a copy of his self-titled debut album, and it has been a staple around the office, in my iPod, at my friends apartments, on car trips, at family gatherings and in my head ever since. At night before bed, in the morning to welcome the new day, when I’m sad or joyous, high or low, the tracks have a way of centering me. From the sharp pizzicato entrance of opener “Blessed” to the groovy mandolin strum of closer “Day by Day”, every song offers the listener just a bit more energy, a bit more life.

On the whole, Brett Dennen is an album jam-packed with folky goodness. Completely evident in the cross section between lyrical naration and laidback style is the fact that Dennen embodies all that American Folk should strive for; amalgamation of message and music. This is not the pop-y disengenuous folk of the latest generation of know-nothing adolescent balladeers. Rather, Dennen's music harkens back to the era of politico folk greats like Pete Seeger, who's "We Shall Overcome" is echoed in Dennen's "All We Have."

A standout track, “All We Have” reminds us that in the darkest times, Love is the ultimate comfort, the savior that will enable us to “rise above the madness.” And that madness is so well defined; poverty and globalization, power struggles and pavement, the track is an anthem for social consciousness the likes of which has not been so exquisitely voiced since John & Yoko’s famous Bed-In interviews of May,1969. Intoning the phrase “Give Love, It’s The Only Thing That Heals You,” this one cut allows me, if only for its six minutes and fifty-one seconds, to see past the daily headlines and Fox News spin, reinvigorating my faith in a humanistic culture championing peace and understanding.

Brett not only writes the chords and lyrics of peace and understanding, he actively seeks to edify these values to the coming generation. His involvement as the Music Director with the Mosaic Project, of which he was a founding member, gives Brett the opportunity to expose California fifth-graders of varying income levels to universal messages of peace. A collection of children’s songs, on par with Peter, Paul and Mary’s family oriented offerings, is just one of the products of his involvement with Mosaic. Available for purchase on the Mosaic web-site, Children’s Songs For Peace and a Better World reminds us that M is for Mutual Respect, O is for Open Mindedness, S is for Self Respect, A is for Attitude (you gotta love yourself, and stay positive), I is for Individuality and C is for Community… Ma Ma Ma Ma Mosaic!

Brett Dennen hits stores nation-wide tomorrow (7.12.05) thanks to a deal with Flagship Recordings. Founded by industry scion Marc Nathan (who discovered Dennen thanks to airplay on Santa Monica's KCRW) Flagship will filter the album through UMVD’s (Universal Music & Video Distribution) new independent channel, Fontana Distribution. I urge you to go to your local record store to pick up this album today. E-savvy buyers can try iTunes and Amazon.com. July 15 Brett's playing Central Park SummerStage, 7PM - Free show! Opening for Shelby Lynne