Verona musician’s upcoming CD release

May 26, 2011

Photo: Lee Casement from his new CD, In the Guestroom. Courtesy of Lee Casement

Music lovers familiar with the local music scene need no introduction to Verona musician Lee Casement. Best known as the bass and keyboard player for the alternative rock band Telefoto, Lee has recently expanded his repertoire to include a number of original tunes that he co-wrote with a diverse lineup of longtime musician friends and family members under a new solo CD effort titled “In the Guestroom”.

The new CD, which will be officially released on May 27, includes nine songs, each of which Lee wrote the music for and then offered to friends and family, who in turn transformed them into their own original songs. “For years I had these song ideas in my head that I wanted to pursue outside of the band (Telefoto), so I recruited a host of mostly local friends and family who are songwriters to write the melodies and lyrics. I gave them a loose musical framework from which to work and they came up with these tunes, each with a really original hook that listeners can sing along to. It was really exciting and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Lee plays bass, keys and sings back up vocals on almost all the tunes, which for the most part showcase the singers who co-wrote the songs. Most of the songs are slower melodic forays into the subjects of joy, love, and dreams. The CD opens with Lee and Rob McDougall’s tune titled “In Dreams”, a soft, lyrical, poetic love song sung by McDougall, with pretty harmonies and an acoustic guitar solo playing on top of an underlying beat that crescendos to a majestic final close.

Harrowsmith’s Doug Van Der Horden co-wrote and sings “Joy”, a soul-searching quest for answers, with a catchy chorus and a down-and-dirty guitar solo. The song appears again at the end of the CD with a final resounding rendition. Lee’s musical cousins Lisa Menard and Ryan Bresee have also contributed their talents, the former with “The Angel Riots”, a slow, airy, melodic tune with Menard singing lead, and Bresee with “Full of Broken Prose”, a sad, slow and  atmospheric confessional where he is joined on vocals by Ana Miura, a talented and well-known Ottawa singer songwriter. Chris Koster is another contributor and his tune “Dead Doves” is one of the most up-beat on the CD. With a catchy chorus about dangerous afflictions the tune is definitely a winner. Other contributions on the CD include Gerald McGrath’s “Worn”, Sarah Baetz’ “Festival Parade”, Paul Butler’s “The Ones Who Need You Most” and Telefoto band member Brad Smith’s “Mountain”.

The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jeff Babcock at his own JSB Studios in Hartington. Jeff also plays drums on a number of the tracks. Just 100 copies of the CD were pressed, mainly as mementos for participating musicians, friends and family. There will be a limited number of CDs for sale for $10 at the CD release party, which takes place on Friday, May 27, at The Next Church, 89 Colborne Street in Kingston. Doors open at 7:30 PM and there is a $2 cover.

Anyone interested in securing a CD can email Lee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Those interested in sneaking a pre-show listen to a few of the tunes off the new CD, can visit cbc.ca/bands/in-the-guestroom. Also to note - Telefoto will be releasing their third music video called “Eight Hour Shift” on Thursday, June 9, at the Music Market in Napanee. For more information visit www.telefoto.ca.