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A wonderful review of "Compasses and Maps" by AmericanRoots UK | |||||
This was where things kicked off for this highly unusual band who only came together via the Byrds internet site with Ron Martin in the U.S and Marco Zanzi in Italy sharing a love for all things Byrdsian and country music in general. Other musicians gradually joined in, such as Mike Gallivan, another who has been involved almost from the start. The band has always had that floating aggregation thanks to the difficulties of being based on two continents, with some parts of their albums recorded in Italy whilst others are done in the U.S. This doesn't make any difference to their sound though with their albums always having a lovely flow. What makes them different from most generically similar bands is the fact that they, not necessarily being a band of 'youngsters,' have many friends who were present at the birth of country rock. What gives this band huge credibility, certainly in my eyes, is the fact that all of those people are happy to not just add their names to the recordings but actually participate and become temporary or occasional members of the band. They include Rick Roberts (FBB, Firefall), Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Southern-Hillman-Furay Band), Gene Parsons (Nashville West, Byrds, FBB, Parsons Green), Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage), Patrick Shanahan (Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage) and Stephen A. Love (Stone Canyon Band, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Roger McGuinn) However you look at it that is a veritable who's who of country rock, all members of some of the most iconic bands in the genre. As with their previous albums there are covers of other people's songs as well as some excellent band originals. The covers are always recognizable and in many cases add a slightly different perspective to the songs with this excellent recording only including three originals, one each by Ron and Marco and a co-write between the two of them. The arrangements and the playing range from excellent to virtuosic and whoever takes lead vocals handles them with huge skill, commitment and quality. They are shared between Ron who does most and Marco as well as Piedmont 'Sisters' Katherine Kelly Walczyk and Rosella Cellamaro, who both add a beautiful lead vocal each as well as harmonies. The opening track, The Woodys, Message From Michael prepares the way for much of what is to follow with its warm mellifluous vocals, jangling guitars, gorgeous harmonies and perfect arrangement. As I said, not edgy, but warm, comfortable and reassuring with heartfelt songs that this band are just steeped in. It is a strong tale that has an easy going mid tempo and a gorgeous melody that is also a tribute to the genre on a quite uplifting song that features Gene Parsons on pedal steel, duet and harmony vocals and Patrick Shanahan on drums. This is followed by the title track Compasses and Maps, a slow moody country rock ballad with more good lead vocals and gorgeous female harmonies allied to the melodic guitars and superb arrangement. On James Taylor's Sweet Baby James we are treated to the beautiful lead vocals of Katherine Kelly Walczyk on a song that she virtually makes her own with this countrified conversion. Of course, vocally she is helped out by the beautiful harmonies supplied by Cecilia Zanzi. The country instrumentation and the vocals combine to make this bands version as good, if not better, than the other myriad covers of the song. Following that is some virtuosic banjo playing by Marco on an excellent version of the old Louvin Brothers song, Love and Wealth. Ron Martin is on lead vocal and the restrained playing and harmonies allow the song plenty of room to breathe. I've always found the Eagles too 'sanitized' and over produced, as a consequence of which I've listened to very little of their music since their 1970s heyday. I've always agreed that they had some of the finest vocalists in popular music and wrote some excellent songs, but everything was so soulless. Tequila Sunrise was/is an excellent ballad that created a nice atmosphere; in fact I've just listened to the Eagles version, but only to compare it to the one on this album! No contest really. What chance did Glen Frey have of competing with the beautiful, almost tremulous lead vocals of Rosella Cellamaro? In a word, none! Somehow, despite the warmth, there is an indistinct edginess to this gorgeous version of the song that is made remarkable by the fact that multi instrumentalist and band mainstay Marco Zanzi plays everything on this song with the exception of bass which is handled by Mike Gallivan. I could go on about more of the songs but you should purchase a copy and come to your own conclusions. You won't hear anything that is raw or 'hillbilly' sounding on the album but there are plenty who have that music tied down. What you will get from this recording are tremendous vocals, playing, songs, arrangements and harmonies, all snuggling inside a lovely comforting warm cloak that will wrap itself around you. Even I, a lover of 'raw' and 'edgy,' have room in my life for a little mellow warmth. The Piedmont Brothers (and Sisters) Band can be relied upon to provide my correct dosage of that!k | |||||
Great review of "Compasses and Maps" in Disco Club in Genoa, Italy! | |||||
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Back To The Country - Late For The Sky (March 2014) | |||||
Back To The Country (MZ 2013) Quinta fatica discografica per la band pedemontana facente capo a Marco Zanzi e Ron Martin, rispettivamente lombardo il primo e del North Carolina il secondo, votata alla proposta di un country-rock di qualità confermato dall’ispirazione dei brani inclusi in questo Back To The Country. La ricetta è precisa, apparentemente semplice, ma in realtà necessita di tanta passione oltre che di buone idee. L’idea alla base del disco è più o meno la medesima del terzo prodotto dell’ensemble (il quarto era una raccolta di outtakes), vale a dire una serie di composizioni azzeccate suonate dai vari componenti del gruppo – parlare di band è in realtà limitante perché questi Piedmont Brothers sono più una sorta di famiglia musicale – con la partecipazione facilitata dalla moderne tecnologie di personaggi che hanno fatto la storia del country rock. La vera carta vincente del disco, rispetto al suo predecessore, è che gli ospiti pur essendo più che presenti non rubano la scena ai titolari. Le cover sono solo quattro, il che va tutto a beneficio della vena compositiva di Martin e soprattutto di Zanzi (non me ne vogliano gli altri fratelli pedemontani, ma Marco con le sue canzoni e i suoi arrangiamenti, per non dire della facilità con cui sa passare dalle chitarre d’ogni tipo a banjo, mandolino e all’occorrenza pianoforte, è da considerare senza tema di smentite la grande anima del gruppo): una bella And Settlin’ Down dei Poco interpretata da Richie Furay che è forse il brano meno “Piedmont” della raccolta, Colorado dei Flying Burrito Brothers cantata al femminile è perfetta e bellissima anche per merito della pedal steel di Gene Parsons, la dolce Carolina Star di Hugh Moffatt e infine In My Own Small Way di Rick Roberts. Il resto è tutto farina del sacco Piedmont, a partire dalla trascinante title track, (ancora con Gene Parsons e con una spruzzata irish) per arrivare a The Dark Stranger che vede presenti ben tre ex New Riders Of The Purple Sage, tra cui Buddy Cage alla pedal steel che conferisce al brano atmosfere tipiche del gruppo di San Francisco. True Aching Heart/Ceci’s Jig è un lungo medley in cui la tradizione nordamericana incontra quella irlandese a testimonianza del fatto che spesso le musiche di questi luoghi procedono su binari analoghi. Belli anche lo strumentale Snowlakes, la song acustica All Is Not Lost, Waiting on A Train fermata e cantata da Martin, in cui Zanzi duetta con Gene Parsons, il primo con lo stringbender elettrico ed il secondo con lo stringbender acustico. | |||||
Back To The Country - Blogfoolk #127 Recensendo il gustoso “Rarities”, disco di inediti e rarità pubblicato in serie limitata, anticipammo che la Piedmont Brothers Band, di lì a poco, ci avrebbe regalato un altro disco, questa volta però nuovo di zecca. Ronald Martin e Marco Zanzi, infatti, non si sono fatti pregare e così, dopo una intensa e coraggiosa campagna di fundraising, eccoci alle prese con “Back To The Country”, album che raccoglie tredici brani, e che cementa ancor di più l’idea cardine questo progetto musicale, ovvero la comune passione per il country rock, una passione più forte delle difficoltà logistiche ed organizzative, che ha avvicinato America ed Italia. Gli ingredienti che avevamo amato nei precedenti dischi ci sono tutti, splendide chitarre, e armonie vocali di cristallina bellezza, ma ciò che più sorprende è la qualità delle composizioni originali, che svelano una scrittura fresca ed originale come è difficile trovare anche oltreoceano, dove troppo spesso la musica roots tende a ripiegarsi su se stessa. Ad impreziosire il disco non mancano anche in questa occasione alcuni ospiti d’eccezione come Rick Roberts (FBB, Firefall), Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Southern-Hillman-Furay Band), Gene Parsons (Nashville West, Byrds, FBB, Parsons Green), il leggendario Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage), Patrick Shanahan (Stone Canyon Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage) e Stephen A. Love (Stone Canyon Band, NRPS, Roger McGuinn). Durante l’ascolto brillano così brani come la title track, firmata da Marco Zanzi, la splendida “All Is Not Lost (How Sad But True)” di Ron Martin, e il traditional “Little Annie” che chiude il disco. Di pari bellezza sono anche le riletture di “Colorado” e “In My Own Small Way” di Rick Roberts, ma soprattutto la superba “And Settlin’ Down” di Richie Furay, il quale per l’occasione la interpreta in duetto con la figlia Jesse Furay Lynch. Insomma “Back To The Country” guardando al passato della grande epopea del country rock degli anni settanta, apre una porta verso il futuro, ricordandoci come questo genere abbia ancora molto da regalarci tanto dal punto di vista delle emozioni quanto da quello prettamente musicale e qualitativo. Blogfoolk #127 | |||||
Back To The Country - SUONO October 2013 | |||||
Back To The Country - americanrootsuk.comThis loose aggregation of hugely talented musicians, in many ways is probably the most unusual band in the whole history of American Roots music, or certainly one of them! It started on the internet where U.S native Ron Martin and Italian Marco Zanzi shared a love of ‘classic country rock’ and corresponded regularly. The same musical tastes but separated by the broad Atlantic Ocean as well as a section of the Mediterranean! It is too long a story to go into here but gradually they and other collaborators such as Mike Gallivan on bass and guitars, Katherine Walczyk, vocals, and a few more from each of the two countries have got together physically and electronically to play and record the country rock and folk music they all have a deep abiding love for. However, perhaps due to their love of the music that is so obvious to anyone who has listened to them, they have been able to draw other hugely talented musicians into their musical fold, many of them genuine ‘legends’ of country rock. On this album we have Richie Furay, (Buffalo Springfield, Southern-Hillman-Furay Band, Poco, Solo) Rick Roberts (FBB, Firefall), Gene Parsons (Nashville West, Byrds, FBB, Parsons Green), Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage), Patrick Shanahan (Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage) and Stephen A. Love (Stone Canyon Band, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Roger McGuinn), with several of the above also being present on their earlier release ‘PBIII.’ You could be forgiven for thinking this is going to be an album containing nothing but country rock but it isn’t! There are several songs that have more in common with British isles folk music, a duo of genres that in many ways are at opposite extremes of roots music. As if that is not enough, little is done to try to blend those genres and ensure they are closer together, other than perhaps a little folksy instrumentation sometimes bleeding into the country rock, thus they provide some lovely contrasts in the music that is played with such commitment, flair and conviction. To say it works beautifully is an understatement. Such is the quality of writing and musicianship that it just adds diversity to another tremendous PBB album. Much of their music whether country rock or folk seems to have that almost indefinable ‘high lonesome sound’ providing an atmosphere that tugs at the emotions irrespective of lyrical content. They are certainly an unusual band in this 21st century with their classic take on both country rock and folk making them, in some ways, a throwback to the early 1970s, but such is the quality of songwriting and musicianship that there is no disjointedness, instead becoming an epic album that almost defines the melody driven branches of roots music. The Marco Zanzi penned album opener and title song Back To The Country, pretty much proves the point, being a gorgeous country rock ballad that thanks to the inclusion of ‘Irish whistle’ also has a nice folksy feeling with a warm lead vocal from Ron Martin, with Gene Parsons on steel guitar and harmonies on a reflective tale of returning to ones roots. This is immediately followed by The Dark Stranger a terrific country rock story song that tells the sinister tale of an outlaw and his inevitable end, with a haunting steel guitar courtesy of Buddy Cage. Next up is another excellent mid tempo country rocker, And Settlin’ Down, a song first heard on early Poco album ‘A good feelin’ to Know,’ written by and performed here by Richie Furay and with some tremendous banjo playing by Marco Zanzi. The Road, written by bass player Mike Gallivan along with Marco Zanzi, includes a lovely instrumental blend with banjo, fiddle, steel guitar and mandolin all complimenting each other beautifully on a just about perfect, mellow mid tempo country rocker with Ron Martin and Rick Roberts sharing lead vocals and tremendous harmonies on a reflective tale of looking back at a life of searching on the road, with all of it’s ups and downs. A True Aching Heart/Cecil’s Jig is an epic seven plus minute composition by Marco Zanzi. It is a folk song that starts with Irish whistle and an extraordinary lead vocal by Cecilia Zanzi, (assumedly wife of Marco) on a tale that could quite easily be taken from a celtic folk album and is an incredibly sad love song that eventually segues into a fiery hard driving ‘celtic’ instrumental. A true epic! Hugh Moffat’s Carolina Star, is given a beautiful country treatment with banjo and fiddle adding to the gorgeous vocals of Katherine Walczyk on lead and Cecilia Zanzi adding beautiful harmonies. Final mention goes to Rosella Cellamaro’s beautifully evocative vocal on the classic Rick Roberts country rock ballad Colorado. Her vocal gives a lift to a song that was already gorgeous, in many ways making it her own and when you add the band’s sympathetic treatment I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this version is soon talked about as being the definitive rendition! Rather than being a rock band that plays country music or vice versa, this is a band so steeped in the music and with so much feeling for what they are doing that they are purely a ‘country rock’ band. They don’t blend country music and rock, they simply play in a fully formed style, with sometimes lovely diversions into folk. Utimately this band and their music are so good that rather than being a‘throwback’ to the late 1960s and early 70s they are a time machine journey into the past that includes twenty first century updates! This is a tremendous album of melody driven roots music by a talented band performing at the top of their game! Mike Morrison - americanrootsuk.com | |||||
Rarities - Aldo PedronLa formazione italo-americana giunta al quinto CD, è costruita principalmente dai due leader, l’americano Ron Martin che vive a Eden, autentico paradiso terrestre e vive ai piedi delle Blue Ridge Mountains nella catena dei monti Appalachi e il varesino Marco Zanzi che vive ai piedi del Sacro Monte e delle Prealpi e per questo motivo è stato scelto un nome così tanto appropriato di Piedmont Brothers Band. I due si sono conosciuti sul web e allo stesso modo hanno conosciuto l’australiano Ray O’ Neill che qui risulta come Executive Producer del progetto. Questo rarities stampato in Australia e contenente incisioni effettuate tra il 1980 e il 2013 è disponibile via internet collegandovi con www.piedmontbrothyersband.com 14 canzoni tra cui 4 alternate takes ovvero brani già pubblicati ma qui presentati in una versione alternativa e sono : Another love ( scritta da Ron Martin ), I like the Christian life dei fratelli Ira e Charlie Louvin ovvero The Louvin Brothers, My everything is you sempre di Ron Martin e I been dreaming bout you ancora una volta composta da Ron Martin per cui parliamo di brani loro e non di cover. Questo Rarities contiene due preziose cover: Turn! Turn! Turn ! di Pete Seeger che la compose negli anni ’50 ma qui eseguita non più in versione folk come l’originale ma in chiave country-rock alla Byrds che la incisero nel 1965 con grande successo e Willin’ composta da Lowell George ed incisa dai Little Feat. Rarities è completato da altre canzoni ben congegnate e brillanti come Women and waves pescata a sorpresa dal repertorio di Jimmy Ibbotson (l’autore)e della Nitty Gritty Dirt band con delle percussioni a sostegno di un sound davvero indovinato e cristallino. Hickory wind è di Gram Parsons mentre All my trails è un traditional. Un disco ben suonato e con delle voci altrettanto notevoli e graziate e all’altezza della situazione. ALDO PEDRON | |||||
PBB III Review on AmericanRootsUKThe biggest problem with this album is knowing exactly where and how to start describing an extraordinary collection of songs that are a very real throwback to the early days of ‘classic country rock’ and if ever an album could be given that label it’s this one. It clocks in at nearly an hour and contains fourteen songs, most of them band originals but also some tremendous covers on which some of the legendary originators of the genre help out with some tremendous playing, vocals and harmonies that are pretty much unsurpassable. And yet, this is very much a band effort with those guests not just adding their names to the roll call but also making a positive contribution. I would imagine they already knew the band from their previous recordings and were happy to help a group that plays with such consummate skill and commitment to the music. Included are Richie Furay (Poco), Jock Bartley (lead guitar in Gram Parsons Fallen Angels and now Firefall), Pat Shanahan (founder member of Rick Nelsons Stone Canyon Band and later New Riders of the Purple Sage) Rick Roberts (Flying Burrito Brothers, Firefall) and Herb Pedersen whose list of credits would take a page on their own, but includes The Desert Rose Band, a band that are often evoked on some of the original songs. What makes the situation even more extraordinary is that the two men who started the band live on different continents, although the band name comes from the fact that they both live in Piedmont regions! Ron Martin, vocals and guitar as well as songwriter hails from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains whilst Marco Zanzi lives in Varese, Italy in the Pre alps area. They got together thanks to a shared love of country rock having met on a Byrds website and the rest as they ……..……..! Whilst the album is impossible to label as anything other than country rock, it often blends European and Celtic folk with country and rock, bringing a freshness to some excellent originals as well as the ‘old’ classics. To give some idea of the work involved in putting this album together it is probably necessary to list the names and instruments of those involved, so here goes. Ron Martin, vocals and guitar, Marco Zanzi, vocals, banjo, lap steel, dobro, mandolin, auto harp, dulcimer, bass, keyboards, Francesco De Chiara plays mandolin, flutes and pipes, Manuel Corato, vocals, guitars, keyboards, Francesco Fruegiuele on electric bass and guitars, Mike Gallivan, electric bass and guitars, Anna Satta, fiddle, Franco Svanoni, drums and percussion, Katherine Kelly Walczyk, vocals, Stefano Zanrosso on upright bass, guitars, trumpet and percussion. Occasionally a strong Italian vocal accent was easily detectable but in many ways this adds appeal, knowing that the music so many in the English speaking world loved, was not isolated to just us but was being picked up on wherever music was played, as evidenced by the variety of nationalities playing generic country music that is sent out to reviewers such as me thanks in no small part to the www! The album opens on a high with their tremendous reworking of the Gene Clark classic, Full Circle, which features both Jock Bartley and Pat Shanahan and in many ways pays a huge tribute to the original and to the skills of this band in still possessing a power and melody that sends a shiver down the spine. This is followed by another old classic in (I Like) The Christian Life, a song written and made famous by the Louvin Brothers and latterly the Byrds. Here we have guests Richie Furay and Herb Pedersen almost unbelievably singing together for the first time ever! Next up is a Ron Martin original, the excellent I Been Dreamin’ ‘Bout You a song that is reminiscent of so many of it’s progenitors but not exactly like any of them, again with lovely chiming and jangling guitars also featuring Rick Roberts on shared vocal and harmonies and Pat Shanahan on drums. We are treated to Katherine Kelly Walczyk beautiful vocals on Liv Taylor’s I Wish I Were A Cowgirl a song that has a lovely pure country feel, also including excellent steel, dobro and fiddle. There is even a stunning heart wrenching version of Dougie McLeans This love will carry, performed very much as the Celtic folk song it is with Rosella Cellamaro’s beautiful vocal providing a gorgeous break to the dominant country rock. The final track on the album is the epic (over ten minutes) The Highlander Suite, written by various members of the band as a‘three parter’ and well worth the cost of the album for this alone. There are more excellent songs and performances from all involved but I suggest you buy it and feel yourself transported by some highly evocative songs spread over the best part of an hour! Some might say the album is too much of a throwback but there has to be an argument in favour of keeping ‘traditional music’ alive and country rock is as relevant a part of that tradition as any other sub genre. I know the sound has developed and changed over the last few decades, genres such as alt. country for example being an updated version that has much of it’s roots in country rock, but this genre was a powerful influence on many way back in the 1960s and 70s. Maybe there is even something in the suggestion that Hank Williams played a lot of country rock and people are still attaining great credibility and credit for following in his shoes. If this album was all covers I probably wouldn’t even be writing about it but the band originals are worthy of the recording and much of the sound does include a folksiness that wasn’t really part of the generic sound forty to fifty years ago. I can’t say I like everything on it but I do love the album. I would say that if you are a fan of the Byrds, Desert Rose band, Poco and others of the great classic country rock bands you will almost certainly love it too! Whilst nothing particularly new is brought to the classic songs that are covered on this album they are a superb exercise in heartfelt and tremendously skilled lead vocals, harmonies and playing, but also illustrate the quality of the writing and matchless arrangements of the originals, bringing a general freshening up that should make people want to explore those originals. The new songs however do bring a freshness and in many ways an update to a classic musical genre that may hopefully get new listeners to investigate the originals from the late 1960s and 70s. Do that and I’m pretty sure the Brothers will be vindicated as well as having many new fans! | |||||
PBB III Review, LaScena magazinewww.lascena.it/nuovo/recensione.php It's like being on the boundless Route 66, touching the sky with a finger, going after the elusive dream of the West Coast, riding on the clouds that form a tent over the blessed American countryside, all hay, watermelon and colorful Texaco gasoline signs, or two steps from the Nashville sounds of a thousand, and all without moving a square inch. In thinking about the "journey" we think of them, The Piedmont Brothers Band, a wonderful bunch of country-folk sensations created by the meeting of two musicians, the first Ron Martin from North Carolina, and the second, from the very Italian city of Varese, Marco Zanzi, and "III "is a new record that this combo puts in place like a book with pictures, words and goose bumps… where - between new and wonderful revivals - all unfold before your eyes like an Altman movie, delusions, dreams and saguaros; this unique freedom to be followed with stupefaction . Many icons attend these fourteen tracks, Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco), Patrick Shanahan (New Riders of the Purple Sage, Stone Canyon Band), Rick Roberts (Flying Burritos), Jock Bartley (Firefall, Gram Parsons), Herb Pedersen (Desert Rose Band, Dillards), practically a portion of the elite American sound of sounds, and with them all the paraphernalia of a divine slide guitar, violins, electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, pedal steel, fiddle, dobro and everything that makes America the great outdoors and endless landscapes imaginable, a combination of all that overflows from this beautiful disc that squeezes the heart and soul in a timeless embrace. Waves without time, the hybrid years of the 60’s, I've Been Dreamin 'Bout You, beautiful babes of the 24 hour diners, I wish I were a Cowgirl, the old steam locomotives charging towards the West, with the original piece by Ron Martin / Rick Roberts Santa Fe Rosie, and the sweetness of the Flying Burrito Brothers’ Sin City, as the gorgeous mixtures of acoustic strings embroider the ballad Lord with the bitterness of a beautiful violin tone and a female timbre that seems to come from distant times, with Baez’s teary eyes. In short, a record that leaves you stunned, as after a slap given by a completely unexpected and sudden gust of wind; tracks, routes and memories that will mess up your hair and will swell your heart like nothing else, including Calamity Jane, Kerouac and a weightless air that comes from the Klondike. …To be fanatically collected. (original Italian) E’ come essere sulla sconfinata Route 66 a toccare il cielo con un dito, dietro i sogni inafferrabile della West Coast, a cavallo sulle nuvole che fanno da tendine sulla beata provincia Americana tutta fieno, watermelon e gasoline point colorate della Texaco o a due passi dalla Nashville dei mille suoni, e tutto senza fare un centimetro quadrato di movimento. A pensare al “viaggio” ci pensano loro, i The Piedmont Brothers Band, stupenda masnada di sensazioni country-folk nata dall’incontro di due musicisti, il primo del North Carolina Ron Martin ed il secondo della italianissima Varese Marco Zanzi, e “III” è il nuovo lavoro discografico che questo combo mette in piazza come un libro con immagini, parole e pelli d’oca in cui – tra inediti e stupende rivisitazioni – tutto scorre davanti agli occhi come in un film di Altman, deliri, sogni e saguari da seguire con la stupefacenza univoca della libertà. Tantissimi i calibri che frequentano queste quattordici tracce, da Ritchie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco), Patrick Shanahan (New Riders del Purple Sage, Stone Canyon Band), Rick Roberts (Flying Burrito), Jock Bartley (Firefall, Gram Parson), Herb Pedersen (Desert Rose Band, Dillars), praticamente una porzione del gotha americano del suono dei suoni, e con loro tutto l’armamentario divinatorio di slide guitar, violini, chitarre elettriche ed acustiche, banjo, pedal steel, fiddle, dobro e tutto quello che fa America dei grandi spazi e degli infiniti landscapes inimmaginabili, un insieme di tutto che esonda da questo bel disco e che stringe cuore e anima in un abbraccio a tempo indeterminato. Onde senza tempo, gli anni ibridi dei 60 I’ve been dreamin’ bout you, le belle pupe dei dinner’s 24h I wish I were a girl, le vecchie locomotive a vapore all’assalto del west con il pezzo originale di Ron Martin/Rick Roberts Santa Fè Rosie e quello dolciastro dei Flying Burrito Brothers Sin City, come gli stupendi impasti di corde acustiche che ricamano Lord o la ballata field con l’amarezza di un bel violino ed una timbrica femminile che sembra uscire dalle storie lontane di una Baez con le lacrime agli occhi. Insomma un disco che ti lascia intontito come dopo uno schiaffo dato da una ventata improvvisa della quale non si sapeva nulla, tracce, percorsi e memorie che ti scompigliano i capelli e ti rigonfiano il cuore come null’altro, tra Calamity Jane, Kerouac e un’aria fine che arriva dal Klondike. Fanaticamente da collezionare. | |||||
PBB III Review- No Depression Music MagazineIII (independent) As Barnes Newberry, radio host of the popular online program My Back Pages, states so splendidly in the liner notes accompanying the Piedmonts’ latest opus, Marco Zanzi and Ron Martin could very well be twins brothers by different mothers. With Zanzi hailing from the Piedmont area of Italy and Martin a native of the Piedmont region of North Carolina, their geographical divide seems insignificant in terms of the common bond they share through their music. Three albums on, these two players continue to extoll the virtues of classic Americana, as specifically by the Byrds, the Burritos, Buffalo Springfield, Poco and the various ensembles that sprung up in their wake. The references are more than merely a matter of emulation; aside from spot-on covers of Gene Clark’s “Full Circle,” the Byrds’ take on “The Christian Life” and the Burritos’ “Sin City,” they manage to elevate their credibility to impressive heights by actually enlisting some of the original players -- Richie Furay, Herb Pederson and Rick Roberts among them -- to share the spotlight. Not that they need the help; nearly every song in the set shows their skill in recreating that early country rock template. Rosella Cellamaro’s vocal on the lovely folk gem “This Love Will Carry” brings additional incentive, although it becomes clear from the outset no further persuasion is needed. (www.piedmontbrothersband.com) www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/lee-s-listening-stack-fifteen-album-choices-for-the-end-of | |||||
PBB III Review- Barnes Newberry MVY RadioPreceded by the stellar debut Bordertown (2008) and the mature powerhouse Lights Of Your Party (2011), this extremely talented group led by Marco Zanzi and Ron Martin (twin brothers from different Piedmont mothers, maybe?!) has lovingly followed and honed their musical chops gleaned from 60's and 70's stalwarts such as the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Dylan, and the Flying Burrito Brothers into their very own sound, a neat amalgam of country rock, folk, bluegrass, gospel, and rock. They deliver some classic cover songs and meld them beautifully with well-crafted originals. Add superlative rapid-fire playing and stunning soaring vocal harmonies, and it yields a refreshingly new Piedmont-Americana sound, so to speak. It is immediately obvious to the listener that this band absolutely loves playing their brand of music! How they must enjoy playing live! I have been airing the PBB albums proudly on my online-only radio show, My Back Pages (@mvyradio.com), since that 2008 debut. Whenever I do, someone always contacts me wanting to know the origin of the band and where they can purchase the cds. I usually then have to explain that Marco and Ron come from the Piedmont regions of Italy and North Carolina respectively, hence the name. Then direct contact is made with Marco (www.piedmontbrothersband.com ) and the rest is automatic. We all love and treasure familiar songs that have been imbedded in our memory banks for years, whether originally heard from the radio, on records, or otherwise passed down by older siblings, or even perhaps parents, so when a new band comes along that clearly respects those classics and yet works diligently to write and play originals that have the same gritty exuberance, well, the circle remains unbroken. And when other musicians we have all revered for years take notice too…just look at some of the guest artists who have graced this new PBB cd! Their resumes will floor you and they surely would not offer their time or services if they did not believe in this endeavor. This is timeless music, folks, and the Piedmont Brothers Band is a group worth following and promoting any way you can. I am confident you will enjoy them as much as I continue to do. Kudos to Marco, Ron, the entire band, and the growing legion of fans and listeners. Happily, their arc is on the rise! Barnes Newberry, July 2012 www.mvyradio.com (host, My Back Pages) | |||||
PBB III Review- Sam Pierre "Le Cri du Coyote"The Piedmont Brothers Band, this is primarily a story of a transatlantic friendship forged around a common love of music with common denominators such as the Byrds and the Beatles, the Flying Burrito Bros. and Poco, CSNY and Eagles. Thus Ron Martin, a native of North Carolina and Marco Zanzi, Varese, Italy, met, first via the Internet where they browsed through the same sites and forums, and then met physically in 2008 for the finalization of the "Bordertown" album. PBB III is the first studio album that the two men worked on together to design a truly ambitious project. An unsuccessful attempt for funding through Kickstarter did not deter the two friends who already knew they could count on the participation of some prestigious guests: Richie Furay, Herb Pedersen, Rick Roberts, Jock Bartley, Patrick Shahanan ... The tone is set from the beginning with Gene Clark’s Full Circle and (I Like) The Christian Life of the Louvin Brothers (with the voice of Richie Furay). The releases are very faithful to the original versions, with rich instrumentation and vocal harmonies whose inspiration of the Byrds / Burritos is very clear. Furthermore, there is also Wait A Minute by and with Herb Pedersen. But beyond this reverence towards these marked models, we must emphasize the quality of the group. The Americana made in Italy, works. The singer Katherine Kelly Walczyk, in particular, brings a new dimension, and her interpretation of I Wish I Were A Cowgirl by Livingston Taylor is one of the highlights of the disc. As for the band's compositions, essentially Ron Martin’s, it is best to note the variety. They even meander to unforeseen shores, as in the Cajun music (My Chérie) or the Celtic genre (The Highlander Suite, which is the junction between the Highlands of Scotland, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Ron Martin and the Pre-Alps that are dear to Marco Zanzi). A truly beautiful surprise. And it is said that Gene Parsons, amongst others, will participate in the band’s fourth album! Sam Pierre- "Le Cri du Coyote" music magazine | |||||
PBB III Review, Tempi (It. music magazine)III, all rock with the Piedmont Brothers Band November 27, 2012 Paola D'Antuono A black cover and a number as the title for the third album of the band founded by Ron Martin and Marco Zanzi. With special participation of the true icons of American music A return that smacks of country, bluegrass and folk. PBB III is the third production of the Piedmont Brothers Band, the group born from the encounter between the musician from Varese Marco Zanzi and Ron Martin, a talented American guitarist. To unite them was a passion for rock and country music of the sixties, the Byrds, the Beatles and Bob Dylan. PBB III is the third album registered in studio by the band, after Bordertown and Lights of your Party (the latter distributed in Italy by Tempi). COVER SONGS AND ORIGINAL TRACKS. In the 14 tracks, consisting of originals and cover songs, the band performs with enviable energy, thanks to super guests who took part in the project. In fact, besides the historic group, led by the foothill brothers of rock, Zanzi and Martin, the album can count on the presence of high caliber artists such as Ritchie Furay (Buffalo Springfield and Poco) and Herb Pedersen (Emmylou Harris, Desert Rose Band) to be heard in the song with a country atmosphere (I Like) The Christian Life and Jock Bartley (Gram Parson's Fallen Angels, Firefall) and Patrick Shanahan (Stone Canyon Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage) give life, in a performance to be framed, to Sin City. AWARDED BY THE CRITICS. As with the previous albums, the press has highly praised this third album, which was released just a few weeks ago. Barnes Newberry, musical historian host of the American radio show MVYradio, defined them as "a group that is worth following and promoting without hesitation," Bergamonews speaks of "an album that is fresh, enjoyable, bubbly, full of great songs," while the Buscadero, a historical rock publication, PBB III is "a happy collection of country stars and stripes." And the musical magazine, Suono, chose it as music record of the month. A great satisfaction for the Piedmont Brothers Band, which remain one of the most interesting in the Italian and international scene and deserve the opportunity to be known and loved by a wider audience, perhaps with the support of a major record label. Meanwhile, for those who want to listen to the live band, the date is November 30 at 18:00 (6:00 pm) at Record Runners in Varese. Be there. @paoladant Read More: III, the third album of the Piedmont Brothers Band | Tempi.it Follow us: @ Tempi_it on Twitter | tempi.it on Facebook Translation by Vivian Canu Caputo III, a tutto rock con la Piedmont Brothers Band Novembre 27, 2012 Paola D'Antuono Una copertina nera e un numero come titolo per il terzo album della band fondata da Ron Martin e Marco Zanzi. Con la partecipazione straordinaria di vere icone della musica americana Un ritorno che sa di country, bluegrass e folk. PBB III è il terzo lavoro della Piedmont Brothers Band, il gruppo nato dall’incontro tra il musicista varesino Marco Zanzi e Ron Martin, talentuoso chitarrista americano. A unirli la passione per la musica rock e country anni Sessanta, quella dei Byrds, dei Beatles e di Bob Dylan. PBB III è il terzo album registrato in studio dalla band, dopo Bordertown e Lights of your Party (quest’ultimo distribuito in Italia da Tempi). COVER E BRANI ORIGINALI. 14 tracce, divise tra pezzi originali e cover, che la band esegue con un’energia invidiabile, grazie anche a super ospiti che hanno preso parte al progetto. Accanto allo storico gruppo, infatti, capitanato dai fratelli pedemontani del rock, Zanzi e Martin,l’album può contare sulla presenza di artisti del calibro di Ritchie Furay (Buffalo Springfield e Poco) ed Herb Pedersen (Emmylou Harris, Desert Rose Band), da ascoltare nel brano dall’atmosfera country (I Like) The Christian Life, e Jock Bartley (Gram Parson’s Fallen Angels, Firefall) e Patrick Shanahan (Stone Canyon Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage) che danno vita a una performance da incorniciare in Sin City. PREMIATI DALLA CRITICA. Come era già successo per i dischi precedenti, la stampa specializzata ha tessuto le lodi di questo terzo album, uscito solo qualche settimana fa. Barnes Newberry, storico conduttore della radio americana Mvyradio, li ha definiti ” un gruppo che vale la pena seguire e promuovere senza incertezze”, Bergamonews parla di “un album fresco, godibile, spumeggiante, pieno di belle canzoni”, mentre per il Buscadero, storica testata di musica rock, PBB III è “una felice raccolta di country a stelle strisce”. E la rivista musicale Suono lo sceglie come disco del mese. Una bella soddisfazione per la Piedmont Brothers Band, che si conferma una delle realtà più interessanti nel panorama italiano e internazionale e che meriterebbe la possibilità di farsi conoscere e amare da un più vasto pubblico, magari grazie al supporto di una grande etichetta discografica. Intanto, per chi volesse ascoltare la band dal vivo, l’appuntamento è il 30 novembre alle 18 al Record Runners di Varese. Non mancate. | |||||
Lights of Your Party Review- John EinarsonA couple of years back I declared The Piedmont Brothers debut album my new favoritecountry rock album. Inspired by their mentors, the likes of The Flying Burrito Brothers, Dillard &Clark and The Byrds, they presented a cohesive collection of superb contemporary country rockplayed with skill, im. On Lights Of Your Party they have no boundaries and are not afraid to takebluegrass into hitherto uncharted waters. This is an album of such fine quality and exquisite tastethat I find myself having to declare Lights Of Your Party my new favorite album and one I will comeback to over and over again. This is music that deserves a wide audience and appreciation. Frankly, it’s far too good not to be. John Einarson – May 2011 La musica bluegrass non deve necessariamente essere una versione rifritta di Bill Monroe o dei fratelli Stanley per apparire autentica e vera. Nonostante le sue profonde radici ed il suo ruolo nella musica Americana, è un idioma che continua a evolversi e ad essere ridefinito, reinventato e reinterpretato nel contesto sia della musica Country contemporanea che della World music. Qualunque artista degno di questo nome vuole evolversi, perfino musicisti bluegrass come i Piedmont Brothers. In questo loro secondo album sono riusciti a realizzare una formidabileed eclettica fusione tra bluegrass contemporaneo, folk, musica Celtica, gospel e country rockintegrando una varietà di strumenti, stili e voci per creare un suono distintivo e personale, allostesso tempo famigliare e nuovo. Canzoni come l’incantevole e ammaliante “Bob’s Spot”, mettonoinsieme sapori Celtici in un contesto folk/bluegrass ed in questo modo di fatto ci riportano allevere origini del bluegrass, indietro alle Isole Britanniche. I Piedmont Brothers (ma anche le sorelle,non dimentichiamolo) non solo offrono un distintivo insieme di superbe canzoni originali, mareinterpretano con capacità la musica di Bob Dylan, di James Taylor, di Richie Furay dei BuffaloSpringfield (“A Child Claim To Fame” è una vera delizia!) e di Ricky Skaggs. La loro esecuzione delvecchio brano country di Boudleaux Bryant “Love Hurts” vi spezzerà il cuore, credetemi: competecon la classica versione di Gram Parsons ed Emmylou Harris per intensità emotiva. Un paio di anni fa definii l’album di debutto dei Piedmont Brothers il mio nuovo albumpreferito di country rock. Ispirati dai loro maestri, quali i Flying Burrito Brothers, Dillard & Clark edi Byrds avevano presentato una collezione armonica di superbo country rock contemporaneosuonato con abilità, impegno e sincerità. In Lights Of Your Party non hanno confini e non hannopaura di portare il bluegrass in acque finora inesplorate. Questo è un album di così fine qualità esquisito gusto che mi trovo a dover dichiarare Lights Of Your Party il mio nuovo album preferito,un disco che riascolterò più e più volte. Questa è musica che merita un vasto pubblico ed un ampioriconoscimento e, francamente, è troppo bella perché non li riceva. John Einarson – Maggio 2011 | |||||
Hear My Brother- Live CD Concert Review"Good evening and Welcome To Nashville", this is how the journalist Paolo Vites presented The Piedmont Brothers Band on stage at the Sala Fontana in Milan, where on June 6th, 2011 Hear My Brother was recorded, the Italian-American band's first live album, just one year from their second studio album Lights Of Your Party. Through the fifteen tracks in the lineup you are able to appreciate all the talent and charm of this music from this band’s live performance, a group that is able to wander nonchalantly from the West Coast sound, to folk, to bluegrass. The line up draws a large part of the repertoire from the two albums released between 2008 and 2011. So you have the opportunity to hear wonderful versions from Bordertown, the title track of the debut album, and from the rousing My Brother excerpts from the second disc, and sung in Italian and English, but especially small gems like Another Love, Springtime Flowers and Working On A Batteau. The complicity and dialogue of voices and guitars by Ron Martin and Marco Zanzi is really exciting, and has a great effect listening to them, thinking also of the history of this group. From the acoustic point of view, of course, the whole group shines with great delivery skills, guided masterfully by Zanzi who, by maneuvering amongst banjo, dobro and lap steel, once again proves to be the soul of this great project. Particularly fascinating is also the rhythm section, composed by Svanoni Franco (drums) and Stephen Zanrosso (bass), which support masterfully the melodic parts by Corato Manuel (piano and guitar), Francesco De Chiara (mandolin, whistles and Galician gaita bagpipes) and Annina Satta (fiddle). If in general, the entire disk is very pleasant and engaging, with The Piedmont Brothers Band being absolutely conquering, not to be missed however, is the open-ended finale and the enthralling execution of the instrumental bluegrass One Morning In Monte Golico and characterized first by the medley from Blue Ridge Mountain Blues /The Wampus Cat Song and then by country rock Mason Wine and concluding with an Irish deviation of Sailor's Hornpipe, in which one seems to hear the Chieftains’ Down The Old Plank Road. Hear My Brother is not only a great appetizer for the new studio album of The Piedmont Brothers Band in the coming months, but is primarily a record of great roots music that fans of the genre should not miss for anything in the world. |
