Since the start of his career in 1969, the Brussels singer and songwriter Johan Verminnen has been following his own course, averse to fashions and trends. With his warm deep singing voice, he sings about life, love and people in his Dutch-language chansons. On the album Solo Sailor, boats and the sea are metaphors for the journey in life. The 'freshwater pirate' sings self-written songs about
… memories of the past, dreams about a more beautiful life elsewhere, about sleepless nights, fear of abandonment, lost love and warm love. The album also contains three (translated) covers: by Canadian troubadour FĂ©lix Leclerc (Moi, Mes Souliers), Amanda McBroom (The Rose) and Willem Vermandere (For Marie-Louise). Very special is that the latter song has become a duet in which Vermandere sings the Flemish lyrics and Verminnen the French. Verminens excellent band members play varied atmospheric arrangements: Bert Candries (guitars, bass), Leo Carts (keys), Paul Flush (hammond, accordion) and Nils De Caster (violin, lap steel). (SvdP)more