Jon Gomm: New album ‘Don’t Panic’ released December 7th
October 7, 2009
If you’ve never heard of Jon Gomm you’re missing out!
A gigging machine, Jon has been playing his brilliant blend of virtuosic acoustic guitar and great vocals for many many years now. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform live few years ago and was blown away.
His new album, ‘Don’t Panic’, will be released on December 7th:
Don’t Panic is the follow up to debut album Hypertension, released way back in December 2003. Why the long wait?
“I made the first record shortly after I’d put together a solo acoustic set and wanted to start touring: it was just a demo to get gigs. I made it a full length album because back then the gig fee was barely covering my petrol money, and I needed something to sell!”
This plan worked a little too well, and Gomm has been touring hard ever since, taking his unique brand of virtuosic acoustic guitar-playing to prestigious festivals around Europe and a punishing tour schedule centred around the UK and Italy, and a new album has had to wait.
The new CD features stronger songs, showcasing Jon’s genuine grasp of a wide range of genres from blues to jazz to rock to country, which comes from his lifelong experience as a session musician and musical academic. Throw in some Urdu lyrics and you’re getting the picture – a one man melting pot. The songs range from dark laments, to sweet melodies, to frenzied romps and there’s even elements of the humour for which Jon’s live shows are renowned.
The guitar playing here is perhaps even more technically demanding than the previous CD too:
“Every time I arrange a new guitar part I make sure I can’t play it without practice. I love the technical aspect as much as the creative process of songwriting, although they are very much separate affairs.”
And as with the debut album, there are no overdubs here, although it may sound like it: there is never more than one guitar on every track.
Jon’s fiercely independent approach to the music industry has meant that the CD was home recorded and is released on the label he owns, which will be launching releases by other artists – including a Grammy winner – in 2010.
Record Label: Performing Chimp Records
Cat no: PCCD006
Mp3s from iTunes and all digital download sites. CDs from Amazon and www.jongomm.com
Jon is available for interview. Mp3s also available. Please contact Natasha at performingchimp@ntlworld.com.
Here’s a taster of the sheer musicality of the man:
Check out more on Jon’s Youtube Channel.
Andy Wood’s Solo Album now available from Amazon
August 14, 2009
Out of curiosity was checking to see if Andy Wood’s debut solo album ‘A Disconcerting Amalgam’ was available from Amazon and lo and behold it is now available!
Buying my copy right now!
Andy Wood Solo Album Released!
July 24, 2009
Great to see that Andy Wood’s Solo album ‘A Disconcerting Amalgam’ is now available!
It’ll be available on iTunes from mid August.
As a taster check out some teaser tracks.
Bombastic Meatbats Album out on September 15th!
July 3, 2009
Spotted over on the Guitar Channel, the debut album from Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats ( featuring Jeff Kollman on guitar, Kevin Chown on Bass, Ed Roth on keys and of course Chad Smith on Drums ) entitiled ‘Meet The Meatbats’ will be released on September 15th!
You can pre-order a copy direct from Warrior Records here.
Street Sweeper Social Club Album out today!
June 16, 2009
Street Sweeper Social Club, featuring Tom Morello, debut album released today!
Rob Balducci ‘Violet Horizon’ Now Available!
June 7, 2009
Rob Balducci’s new album, ‘Violet Horizon’, is now available on CD.
Check out Violet Horizon mini-site for audio samples and videos.
Steve Vai “Naked Tracks” now on CD with Transcriptions
May 29, 2009
It’s been a good while since Vai’s Naked Tracks were available for digital download, but early this June the tracks will be available on CD for the first time.
The CDs will be released as a special limited-edition digipack box set. Fives CDs containing backing tracks from Passion and Warfare, Sex & Religion, Fire Garden, Alive In An Ultra World and The Ultra Zone.
The Naked Tracks section of vai.com has been updated with info on each song detailing key, time signature, what Vai was thinking etc.
In the liner notes you can download from vai.com, I give various parameters regarding the key, scale, time signature, etc. of the track, but these are just road maps that you may choose to take. There are a lot of dirt roads off the main highway. You are encouraged to experiment with alien notes. You know… the little green ones!
But that’s not all!
The ‘Little Black Dots’ section of vai.com will provide downloadable Tablature of the songs!:
Soon it will be possible to download the transcriptions for these pieces of music. This can assist in the recreation of most recorded parts on the song including guitar solo transcriptions and tab. This new feature will appear in Vai.com’s “Little Black Dots” section of the site in the coming weeks.
