Richie Kotzen returns with Nomad, a solo album that cements his reputation as a rock and roll innovator. Known for his guitar wizardry and deeply respected across the music world, Kotzen has spent decades pushing boundaries, from his work with Poison and Mr. Big to leading the Winery Dogs and collaborating with Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith in Smith/Kotzen.

On the album, Kotzen does it all. He wrote, recorded, and produced it, laying down almost every instrument himself. The album’s eight tracks are a masterclass in versatility, blending hard rock with elements of '70s soul, funk, jazz fusion, and R&B, all through the lens of Kotzen’s unmistakable style.

“I was raised on soul, funk, and R&B, but I’ve always been a hardcore rock fan,” Kotzen explains. “You’ll hear echoes of Parliament and Curtis Mayfield in my music, but also shades of Bad Company and early Rod Stewart. When I got serious about the guitar, I fell into fusion with bands like the Dixie Dregs and Return to Forever. It’s a wild combination, but that’s what makes me, me.”

The first single “Cheap Shots” opens Nomad like a cannon blast - bold, guitar-driven, and full of hard-hitting riffs that remind us why Kotzen is revered as a rock powerhouse. It was released it to critical acclaim, and then followed it up with “On The Table,” which came to life from a quirky inspiration - his Brazilian father-in-law’s first English words, “The book is on the table.” That phrase sparked the lyrics that completed this heavy-hitting anthem.

While Nomad is packed with heavy rockers, its true brilliance lies in its range. Tracks like “Nihilist,” “This Is a Test,” and the title track “Nomad” reveal Kotzen’s broad musical range and fearless creativity as a producer and arranger. Though already renowned as a guitarist, Nomad solidifies Richie Kotzen as a rare, multi-dimensional talent - an artist just as formidable with his voice, his pen, and his production skills as he is with a guitar in hand.