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First Solo CD A Long Time Comin'
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Long time bluesman "Guitar" George Baker has released his first CD as a leader, after first picking up a guitar 50 years ago. Mojo Lady is a ten song blues CD, which is packaged along with a five song DVD captured in 5.1 surround sound. Baker is a bluesman in the style of B.B. King and, to a lesser extent, Albert Collins, as his songs feature his bold vocals and stinging electric guitar playing. Also, the blues fan will enjoy the tasty soloing on tracks such as "Black Night", "Something Must Be Wrong", and a reggae/funk-flavored cover of "House Of The Rising Sun". His cover of "Johnny B. Goode" is also done in a unique reggae style, but unfortunately not a guitar showcase, as the sax handles all the soloing. Baker has always prided himself on delivering a dynamite live performance, and so a live CD/DVD combo is a great way for his fans (and potentially new fans) to experience his work from the comfort of home.
George's career began in his hometown of New Roads, Louisiana, where he picked up a guitar at the age of 17. His first gigs were with local R&B vocalist Roosevelt "Boo" Gautier. He soon joined Earl Davis and the Upsetters and hit the road, touring with The Drifters and other headliners before jumping ship and coming to New York City in 1961. Soon he met Trevor Lawrence, and the two attended Brooklyn Conservatory together. With a thriving New York music scene, George's guitar work was in demand. He recorded with Bobby Robinson (of "Kansas City" fame) and joined the house band at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. In 1968 he became musical director for the great Marvin Gaye, and toured the country with him for three years. He then joined up with Melba Moore for an 18-month tour before settling back in New York as a freelance player and session man.
It wasn't until George moved to New Haven that he became a headliner himself. Working with talented local musicians he formed the George Baker Experience, performing live and writing material for his debut CD.
Contact Information
Michael Bloom Media Relations
P.O. Box 41380
Los Angeles, CA 90041-0380
United States
E-mail:
"Guitar" George Baker
Web site:
www.guitargeorgebaker.com
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The Flamenco Surfer
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A true melding of styles, Arizona guitarist Chris Brian Gussa's instrumental CD-R release, Full Moon In Cancun, exhibits an overriding Latin-Flamenco feel (on acoustic guitar) with electric surf guitar added for effects and solos. As a former San Diego surfer, Gussa takes that experience and rolls it into his music - the variety of guitar tones, whammy and twang being key to delivering on the near-visual experience that the music promises. Highlights include "Moonlight Mambo" and the title track, and as Gussa states, "This is the perfect music for dreaming, working, kickin' back, or going down the road - some of the most beautiful music you will ever hear." Now how can land-locked North Carolinians argue with that?
Chris grew up near the Tijuana border of Mexico in San Diego, California, learning to play guitar at the age of six and was beginning to have a preference for blues guitar by the age of ten. By the age of 16 he won a KGB radio contest for the title of "Best Blues Guitarist in San Diego". He has played in almost every genre of music known since, says Chris, "I didn't have a chance, and they got me while I was sleeping! When I was about six (1955), my Dad helped me build a crystal radio set. I used to fall asleep with the little earphone in my ear listening to Mexican stations, which came through loud and clear being so close to Tijuana. I am convinced that as I slept, this beautiful Mexican music got into my subconscious. One of the stations always signed off saying something in Spanish followed by the most beautiful and fastest lead guitar scale run I had ever heard in my life! They singed off at midnight and I would always sit up wide-awake after the run was played. I had just been given my first guitar and would try to repeat the scale every morning when I woke up. Although I never knew the players name I literally learned the run in my sleep and I think I tried to put a little of that scale into all my music every since."
Currently, Gussa is playing and producing a lot of bluegrass, and would love to hear his music on a major surf movie soundtrack.
MP3 Songs
Moonlight Mambo
Full Moon In Cancun
Contact Information
Chris Brian Gussa
P.O. Box 1735
Benson, AZ 86602
United States
E-mail:
Chris Brian Gussa
Web site:
www.chrisbriangussa.com
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