Guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale mines his soul for an inspirational collection of jazzy adult pop vocal tunes
Respected and recognized as one of music’s most innovative guitarists, Grammy winner Frank Gambale returned to his roots for his 20th solo album by delivering an exquisitely crafted vocal collection comprised of original jazzy adult pop songs. “Soulmine,” which will be released May 22nd on the artist’s Wombat Records, was written and produced with his collaborating vocalist BOCA. Award winning director Nigel Dick (Guns ‘n Roses, Britney Spears, Oasis, Cher) lensed the tantalizing video for the disc’s debut single, “Forbidden Kiss.”
Now in his 26th year as a solo artist and best known for his revolutionary instrumental recordings and audacious live performances with jazz fusion icons including Chick Corea, Billy Cobham, and Return To Forever (with Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and Jean-Luc Ponty), Gambale began his career playing in vocal groups. The genesis of “Soulmine” has ruminated in the gifted composer’s consciousness for decades. When he met and married his soul mate, BOCA, the guitar maverick who pioneered two imaginative techniques for playing the six-stringed instrument – Sweep Picking Technique and Gambale Tuning – had finally found the voice for which he had longed.
“This is the album that I’ve wanted to make for about 30 years. ‘Soulmine’ has all my favorite elements: cool grooves, hip changes, vocal harmonies and lots of guitar. I especially like the way the voice and guitar dialogue. I haven’t done it up until now because there was a major ingredient missing and that is BOCA. BOCA is the perfect voice for this music and she was the perfect collaborator. The messages in the lyrics are beautiful. BOCA really captured the right sentiments in the music,” said Gambale, who will preview the album at a May 3rdperformance with BOCA at Anthology in San Diego. “The music that I’m drawn to is the stuff that really makes me feel something. We love what we do – we love music – and we always have reverence for the music.”
“Soulmine” shines on multiple levels. As expected from a Gambale record, the musicianship is masterful. Gambale’s passionate guitar-work is cool-toned, poised and restrained juxtaposed with melodic shrieking and crying with ferocious fire and desire. The deep rhythmic pockets are dug with precision by five-time Grammy winning bassist Victor Wooten and drummer Joel Taylor. A large portion of the keyboards are astute Gambale etchings. Gambale’s and BOCA’s ensnaring melodies are further embellished by graceful piano flourishes courtesy of Otmaro Ruiz and a roof-raising organ solo from Brian Auger (on “Live Your Dream”). The instrumental beds made from fresh sheets of cosmopolitan jazz, funky R&B, shimmering pop, and sultry Latin and Brazilian nuances allow BOCA’s sensual vocals to caress the sophisticated scales with heartfelt warmth and emotion. Her lyrical muse explores expressive love songs and sunshine laced messages of inspiration, empowerment, and hope in the pursuit of dreams and life. The pair’s meticulous production is richly realized, layered and visceral allowing the songs to unfold sublimely.
Hailing from Canberra, Australia, Gambale arrived in Los Angeles in the early 1980’s to study at the Guitar Institute of Technology. The same year he released his debut album, 1986’s “Brave New Guitar,” he landed a gig touring with jazz violin great Ponty. He parlayed that into an invitation to join Corea’s groundbreaking Elektric Band with which Gambale toured and recorded for 6 years. The fruitful relationship with the keyboard legend, who said “Frank Gambale is one of the most incredible guitarists on the planet,” continues to this day and has garnered the guitarist a Grammy and a couple of Grammy nominations. Gambale forever changed guitar playing when he originated and popularized the Sweep Picking Technique and the Gambale Tuning method, which are now part of common guitarist vernacular. Sweep Picking – or Sweeping as it is commonly known – utilizes the pick in a sweeping motion combined with a matching fret hand technique in order to produce a specific series of notes that are fast and fluid. Gambale Tuning allows the guitar to enjoy the full range and chordal capabilities of a piano. Last year, Gambale joined seminal jazz fusion ensemble Return To Forever for a world tour that concluded with a reunion performance by the Elektric Band alongside Corea, Eric Marienthal, John Pattitucci and Dave Weckl. An esteemed educator and accomplished author of numerous instructional books and DVDs, Gambale’s boundless talents and energy are focused on sharing “Soulmine” with audiences around the globe. Additional information is available at www.frankgambale.com andwww.frankgambalesoulmine.com.
The songs on Gambale’s “Soulmine” are:
“Love Set Me Free”
“Live Your Dream”
“All In The Game Of Life”
“Be The Change”
“Sun Will Shine”
“Forbidden Kiss”
“Keep Leadin’ Me On”
“Save Me From Myself”
“Enchanted Love”
“Open Your Mind”
Source: www.frankgambale.com
