“The D”® by Mark Kassa and “Slight Return®”

Mark Slight Return Kassa (@slightreturnusa) • Instagram photos and videos

Slight Return® USA – Welcome to the D | Slight Return® USA

2024/2025 Guitar Player of the Year and Prestige Awards Hall of Fame Inductee

“The D”® album by Mark Kassa and his group “Slight Return®” is a musical adventure that skillfully merges elements of rock, funk, blues, and a hint of jazz, highlighting his talent as a guitarist, writer, arranger, and producer. This album is distinguished not only for its technical excellence but also for its capacity to stir emotions and convey narratives through its music. It encompasses high-energy rock tracks like “The D®” (the ideal anthem for Detroit), groovy tunes such as “Shake, Move, Groove” and “Wait a Minute”, upbeat songs like “Happy Birthday”, a tribute to Jimi Hendrix with the “Star Spangled Banner”, powerful riffs and lyrics in “The Blood of the World”, and exceptional jam session versions of classic songs including “Black Magic Woman”, “Come and Get Your Love”, “All I Ever Wanted”, and the Buddy Miles anthem “Them Changes”. Mark also showcases his band members, with William Pope on vocals for “Shake, Move, Groove”, Christian Vegh on the rock jam “Weekend Homewreck”, Tony Mitchell on vocals for the cover songs, and Ronnie Karmo with a 4-minute drum solo on “The Blood of the World”. He also gives his band members ample opportunities to shine during live performances, demonstrating the qualities of an exceptional band leader who values his band members. The album includes special guest singer Tony Lindsay (8x Grammy Award Winner) on two songs.

This compilation of music spans a wide range of genres reminiscent of the band’s instant classic album “Welcome to the D®”, which included legendary musicians like George Clinton from Parliament/Funkadelic, Billy Cox from Jimi Hendrix’s “Band of Gypsys”, and Dennis Coffey from the Motown Funk Brothers.

Musical Excellence:

Kassa’s guitar performances are the highlight of the album, showcasing his wide range and talent. Every song emphasizes his ability to play with both precision and emotion, whether it’s the intense, memorable guitar riffs and wild whammy techniques found in the heavier tracks or the smooth, expressive solos in the bluesy, jazz-inspired song segments. His guitar playing is both accurate and full of life. The album’s production lets each instrument stand out, thanks to the skilled engineering, mixing, and mastering by Steve Capp, with the bass providing a strong foundation and the drums adding a lively energy that perfectly complements Kassa’s guitar playing.

Notable Moments:

Every song feels like a piece of a larger puzzle, contributing to the album’s overall unity and rhythm.

Songwriting and Composition:

Kassa’s approach to songwriting combines elements of classic rock, funk, blues, and jazz with a contemporary edge. The album features the influences of legendary musicians, yet the sound is uniquely Slight Return®.  One review described Mark and Slight Return® as “One of the funkiest bands on the Detroit scene! The band mixes it up with original material that seems to blend the past with the present and the future. Imagine Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Rage Against the Machine, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers coming together for a jam session!”

The compositions are well-structured, with each song offering something distinct yet contributing to the album’s main theme. The intricate instrumental work and attention to detail in the album draw listeners in, with Kassa’s guitar creating a vocal quality that is just as impactful as the lyrics.

Overall Review:

This album is a treat for lovers of rock music with a guitar focus, especially for those who value the creativity in innovatively mixing different styles. Whether you’re a fan of Hendrix, Santana, Buddy Miles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Chili Peppers, Rage, Sly Stone, or Black Sabbath, there’s something here for everyone.

It’s evident that Kassa has dedicated himself fully to this project, as seen in the detailed work and the deep emotional impact of the music.

This record is a must-hear for anyone who values talented musicians and innovative songwriting. Mark Kassa has crafted an outstanding album that cements his status as a skilled and versatile guitarist, producer, arranger, and vocalist in today’s music scene.

Mark Kassa and his band Slight Return® have had nearly 30 songs on the first round of Grammy Awards Ballot within the last decade. Hopefully, this will be their year for an official nomination as The D® album has yielded six entries including “Best Rock Album”, “Best Rock Song”, “Best Rock Performance”, “Best Metal Performance”, and “Best Music Video”. It would be well-deserved for a band that’s been active in recording, releasing, and performing live music since 1995.

Mark and his band are proud of such a rich collection and catalog of music, and have recorded and performed with members of legendary bands and inductees from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Funk Hall of Fame, R&B Hall of Fame, and Musicians Hall of Fame!

It’s often referred to as “Detroit Rock City.” Mark Kassa and Slight Return® are among the best!

The D® and Welcome to the D® should be the anthems at every sports event in Detroit.

We congratulate Mark Kassa on this award, which is well deserved!