HARMONICA WIZARDS MAKE MAGIC ACROSS THE POND
Nashville, TN, USA/Canterbury, Kent, UK – Miss Max Records (USA) and Tethnik Records (UK) proudly announce the simultaneous release of “Back To Back”, featuring New Zealand Harmonica luminary Brendan Power, and American Harmonica wizard, PT Gazell. The CD is being released exactly one year after a chance meeting at a festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at which the two played together for the first time. These two international stars bonded over their love of classic swing music and mutual admiration for one another’s work. After playing what turned into a magical version of “Honeysuckle Rose” at a jam session, the idea for the recording of “Back to Back” was born.
One of the most unique aspects of this recording is that although the basic tracks were laid down in Nashville, TN, much of the recording was done long distance. UK-based Powers and US-based Gazell sent tracks back and forth using the internet and communicated via SKYPE all during the process and throughout the final mixes. Thanks to SKYPE “I felt as if I was in the studio with PT and Dave Sinko, our brilliant engineer,” stated chromatic harmonica virtuoso Brendan Power commenting on the internet’s importance to the project.
The disc is filled with classic reinterpretations that evoke the swinging sounds of Benny Goodman, Django Reinhart, Ben Webster and many more… There are two solo pieces by each artist and seven duets. Together, and separately, these two masters have created a unique and brilliant collection of instrumental feats of wonder.
Veteran diatonic harmonica ace PT Gazell, whose last effort, “Swingin’ Easy – Hittin’ Hard” was greeted with much success and critical acclaim, said that although the recording method was “unconventional”, the sessions “proved to be some of the coolest I’ve been involved with in years.”
Both PT Gazell and Brendan Power have busy schedules that will see them traversing the globe, together and separately. They will be playing at the SPAH Festival in St. Louis in August, and then PT heads to China to play at the Asian Pacific Harmonica Festival in Hangzhou City and to Shanghais for some club gigs. Powers travels back to Europe and to gigs in France after their get together in St. Louis.
Both players are extremely exited and pleased to see the release of their combined efforts and are looking forward to unleashing their new sounds live at the Festival in St. Louis. The unlikely pairing of these two harmonica greats – one a UK-based New Zealander and the other a Wisconsin-native now based in Tennessee – has allowed for a truly unique, exciting and one of a kind special event, “Back To Back.”
2008 marks a milestone for PT Gazell, as his highly anticipated duet CD with European harmonica wizard Brendan Power hits the stands. This collection of jazz and swing standards featuring PT on diatonic harmonica and Brendan on chromatic, is certain to make fans and industry folks alike sit up and take notice. PT and Brendan weave their individual sounds around tight harmonies and unison lines in a way that will catch listeners by surprise. Selections include songs like “Till Tom Special,” Back To Back” and “When I Fall In Love.” This CD proves once again what PT’s fan base already knows…he’s something special.
PT’s last CD, “Swingin’ Easy…Hitting Hard”, once again set a standard for others to follow. Combining elements of Jazz, Swing, and Pop Standards PT Gazell produced a classic American Recording that kept your toes tappin’, your head boppin’ and your smile firmly in place.
PT's first release, “Pace Yourself”, (featuring Jerry Douglas and Ricky Skaggs as sidemen) set the gold standard for diatonic harmonica playing. This blast of sonic bluegrass was and is, ahead of its time.
His innovative work with the West Texas Music Company, (Johnny Paycheck's working band) from 1977 to 1980 opened up new musical possibilities for PT. His talents as both a soloist and as an ensemble member player garnered him critical and popular acclaim and made him one of the most sought after session players in the country.
From Jazz to Bluegrass, PT Gazell covers the musical waterfront as a bandleader, a recording artist and soloist. The one common denominator is the pure musical joy that emanates with each carefully considered note he plays. Buy The CDs @ CDBaby
PT GAZELL & THE SIDE EFFECTS: Swingin' Easy.Hittin' HardHot, swingin', smooth, original, clean, lyrical, faster than a speeding bullet, diatonically chromatic, one of a kind, masterful, the swingingest, "Oh yeah, like what?," Nat King Cole, Ben Webster, Sweets Edison, Benny Goodman, Louie Jordan,.Dig that.
P.T. GAZELL: Pace YourselfBluegrass, Traditional and Country flavored tunes, played on the harmonica. Featuring Jerry Douglas and Ricky Skaggs.Or Buy the CDs atwww.ptgazell.com/orders.htmlHere is another place to buy "Back To Back" Check out this site if you would like an online study course for harmonica.highly recommended! Harmonica
