PT Gazell at Baur’s – January 13th
Hot, swingin’, smooth, original, clean, lyrical, faster than a speeding bullet, diatonically chromatic, one of a kind, masterful, and the swingingest. These are terms used to describe master harmonica player PT Gazell and his band The Side Effects, who will bring their dynamic sounds to Baur’s Listening Lounge on Friday, January 13th , at 8:00 p.m. PT Gazell’s command of his instrument offers listeners an extraordinary opportunity to experience someone with a matchless one-of-a-kind vision, style and technique.
This world-class concert is brought to Baur’s by Music Appreciation Society. Baur’s is located at 1512 Curtis Street in downtown Denver. Patrons may enjoy dinner in Baur’s classic vintage dining room before the show. For ticket information: http://BaursMagic.com. For dinner reservations: 303-615-4000.
About the Musician:
PT Gazell earned his position as a master of the diatonic harmonica by taking the long way around from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin to Nashville, Tennessee. First picking up the instrument in his late teens, the Wisconsin-born, self-taught player honed his craft by taking on all manner of musical styles and traveled a circuit that included bluegrass, folk, pop festivals and gigs.
His instinctive musicality allowed him to explore and expand his repertoire and achieve a lofty level of mastery very quickly. Early in his musical evolution, Gazell found his way to Lexington, Kentucky in the mid-seventies.
At the time Lexington was a hotbed of young bluegrass musicians and PT fell right in with the likes of Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck and others. In Lexington, PT recorded his first album for Sugar Hill Records, “Pace Yourself.” Recorded with an all-star lineup, it is this recording that announced PT Gazell’s genius to the world. He was the first harmonica player, and the second artist, to be honored with a recording contract with famed Sugar Hill Records. His total and complete mastery of the diatonic harmonica can be heard on this seminal recording, which set the bar for all other players who followed.
Gazell soon became a sought after side man and session player for some of Nashville’s biggest stars and recorded all over the world alongside the stars of the day. After 10 years of extensive touring and frustrated by the musical limitations presented by the standard diatonic harmonica, Gazell put his instrument down and disappeared for a while. When he reemerged it was with a newfound enthusiasm in part created by his introduction to valved harmonicas. Using self-valved harps, Gazell’s music literally soared to new heights as this new approach allowed him access to musical possibilities normally not available on the standard diatonic harmonica. “Suddenly I was able to play exactly what I was always hearing but could not achieve. The valves unlocked the door.” And PT came out swinging… His first recording using the valved diatonic is a masterful swing record entitled, “Swingin’ Easy…Hittin’ Hard” that PT released in 2005.
In 2008 Gazell and New Zealand chromatic harmonica wizard, Brendan Power, teamed up for a swinging, dynamic sonic masterpiece titled, “Back To Back.” Gazell’s work on this once-in-a-lifetime masterwork shows a man at the top of his game. The CD features standards and jazz classics reinterpreted by two of the world’s most gifted instrumentalists.
The 2011 release of “2 Days Out,” marked yet another milestone in harmonica maestro PT Gazell’s musical journey. Perhaps the most musically daring of all his recordings, “2 Days Out” explores dynamic sonic combinations that are superbly refreshing, spirited and profound.
“A Madness to the Method,” the latest offering in the musical journey of harmonica innovator PT Gazell, delights and captivates in all its genre-busting glory. Nominated for 3 awards in the initial round of Grammy balloting “A Madness To The Method” re-establishes PT Gazell as one of the finest and most unique players in a generation.
PT likes to think of his projects as “an ongoing musical conversation between myself and my fans.” No other player combines his phrasing, melodic style, song choices and improvisational abilities. His singular style may draw comparisons to others, but in the end, it’s a style all his own.