Chuck Schiele
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Excellent Guitar Work Supports Rock/Pop Release
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Chuck Schiele has gotten plenty of critical praise for his songwriting, his lyrics and his message. But you probably wouldn't be reading about his CD, Chuck Schiele & The Mysterious Ways, here unless there was something happening instrumentally, specifically with his guitar. Schiele, out of San Diego, is also a talented six stringer, as his previous contribution to the instrumental project compilation "Enough Talk" demonstrated. Flowing fingerpicking, rhythmically inviting acoustic work and luscious electric guitar lines support his introspective songwriting, and the man has the mettle to include four wonderful instrumental tracks on what is essentially a pop/rock offering - how rare is that? Guitar fans will check out the instrumentals "The Great Big Ballad Of Tommy Leggett", "Celestial", "Dorothy" and "Three Kings" before perusing the profound messages found in songs such as "Dig" and "Poor Little Rich Girl". A plateau breaking album.
Chuck's career began with a group called The And, a four piece "kill 'em and eat 'em" guitar rock band. As he puts it, "I'm most comfortable in guitar bands." They had a nice run for about seven years playing San Diego and Los Angeles venues. After that group, Chuck started Modern Peasants, which went on to receive solid critical acclaim, regionally. They enjoyed the better part of four years playing San Diego and Los Angeles venues. This group took the guitar band idea and added classical violin and afro-percussion into the mix. Both experiences brought successes for airplay, endless gigging, sharing bills with national touring acts, recording and favorable review. The Mysterious Ways began when Chuck began writing the "mysterious" project at the turn of 2000. By October of the same year they began recording at PHPromusic, under the encouragement of the Melissa Hague Talent Agency.
Currently, Schiele is promoting his latest CD, while undertaking a new project referred to as the "Gandhi Method", a modern sounding three part vocal and acoustic guitar project with the much revered San Diego producer/artist Sven-Erik Seaholm, and Scott Wilson, another extremely talented singer-songwriter.
Contact Information
Chuck Schiele
4876 Del Mar Avenue #2
San Diego, CA 92107
United States
E-mail:
Chuck Schiele
Web site:
www.chuckmusic.com
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Henry Johnson
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Making Jazz The Way It Used To Be Made
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Organic, the latest CD from Henry Johnson is a return to the guitarist's roots, to the most basic concepts of jazz and blues, but taking the organ combo concept into new areas with more difficult tunes and modern arrangements. There's no funny business in the studio either; Johnson is such a formidable player that overdubs and other studio trickery are not required to deliver the kind of jazz once pounded out by the likes of Jack McDuff. Johnson also invited Nancy Wilson to sing guest vocals on four of the tracks, giving the album a well-rounded quality destined to broaden its overall appeal. Guitar fans will appreciate Johnson's sophisticated rhythm accompaniment, his sensual embellishments and of course his fluent, single-line excursions that reveal a new surprise around the bend of each phrase. Organic is simply the latest entry in the long list of standout recordings Johnson now finds in his growing discography.
Chicago-born Henry Johnson began playing at age twelve. While spending some formative time in Memphis, he started playing gospel music at age thirteen. By age fourteen, Johnson was playing in R&B groups. Although Johnson's parents brought him up hearing the music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Joe Williams, and other artists of that era, it was not until 1967 that Johnson was formally introduced to jazz by hearing guitarist Wes Montgomery. In 1969, Johnson and his family then moved back to Chicago where he developed a reputation on the south side as a local jazz guitarist. In 1976, he went on the road with jazz organist Jack McDuff and had the good fortune to work with vocalist, Donny Hathaway in 1977. "You're The One", his recording debut for MCA/Impulse! achieved #1 status on both the Radio & Records NAC chart, and Contemporary Jazz chart for two months-a rare occurrences for a first recording. This recording also won a five star rating in Downbeat magazine, and was nominated for a Grammy.
Johnson's follow-up recordings, "Future Excursions" and "Never Too Much" also reached the top of the charts."New Beginnings", was Johnson's debut recording for the Heads Up International jazz label. Johnson's music has been a favorite at radio stations world wide since the release of his very first CD, "You're the One" on MCA/Impulse! and the appeal of his music continued with the release of his second recording for Heads Up International, entitled "Missing You".
Contact Information
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
269 S Route 94
Warwick, NY 10990
United States
E-mail:
Henry Johnson
Web site:
www.henryjohnsonjazz.net
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