Music plays an important part in everyone lives. It can touch every one of our senses and emotions. Brings us joy. Brings back memories. Makes us want to dance. Make us smile. Makes us think. What would life be without music?? Once in awhile a CD can come along and there will be moments on that shiny disk that will make you want to dig it out and hear it again. I received a CD recently and I have had troubles getting it out of my player. Was it stuck? No! But let me tell you the music will stick in your brain. The melodies will stay with you. This is not rare, there are many classic CD’s albums out there but it is rare for me in 2008 -2009. The music is a potpourri of styles. Folk, blues, rock, country and bluegrass. Is it just faithful covers? Yes there are some, but it is the original songs and the production of this CD that brings all these styles of music into the new millennium. Ladies and gentlemen ….. ”Bordertown” - The Piedmont Brothers Band. Ray O'Neill - New South Wales, AUSTRALIA |
Ray O'Neill - Music GURU and founder of the Acousticharmonies YAHOO! Newsgroup |
"Two musicians, one American and the other one Italian, meet on a country rock forum . From their conversation through the Internet an album was born to celebrate the country rock era of 70s" "Bordertown è un disco corale, bellissimo, pieno di bella musica, che celebra il mito dell’american music ma anche l’amicizia ed il piacere di suonare insieme. Consigliatissimo" Salvatore Esposito - Il Popolo del Blues (Febbraio 2009)
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Il Popolo del Blues Online - http://www.ilpopolodelblues.com/intro.html Salvatore Esposito (Campobasso, 1981) Vive a Caserta e studia giurisprudenza. Da un anno collabora con la redazione di JAM e de "Il Popolo Del Blues". È il webmaster del Sito Italiano Di Neil Young (www.rockinfreeworld.tk) e ha curato insieme a Michele Murino per Editori Rinuiti la stesura del volume "Legends" su Bob Dylan. Sempre per Editori Riuniti ha collaborato al volume su Francesco De Gregori di Giammaria Monti. |
"From the meeting between an american and an italian, a celebration of the country-rock epic " "Dall'incontro tra un italiano e un americano, una celebrazione dell'epopea del country-rock" Salvatore Esposito - JAM n° 156 (Febbraio 2009)
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JAM Online - http://www.jamonline.it/ Italian Rock Magazine Salvatore Esposito (Campobasso, 1981) Vive a Caserta e studia giurisprudenza. Da un anno collabora con la redazione di JAM e de "Il Popolo Del Blues". È il webmaster del Sito Italiano Di Neil Young (www.rockinfreeworld.tk) e ha curato insieme a Michele Murino per Editori Rinuiti la stesura del volume "Legends" su Bob Dylan. Sempre per Editori Riuniti ha collaborato al volume su Francesco De Gregori di Giammaria Monti. |
La puntata di Crossroads in onda martedi 27 gennaio sarà interamente dedicata al country e bluegrass italiano. La trasmissione conterà sulla partecipazione di Marco Zanzi, leader della formazione Piedmont Brothers Band, un gruppo country di Varese che ha recentemente pubblicato uno dei dischi più belli mai usciti in Italia, e di Martino Coppo, mandolinista della storica band bluegrass genovese Red Wine, che presto condividerà il palco in un paio di date con l'artista americano Tim O'Brien, in Italia anche per un workshop. Il Fowly vi dà appuntamento come al solito alle ore 23.35 su Radio Popolare (www.radiopopolare.it) Maurizio Faulisi, Radio Popolare Network (Milano) |
Maurizio Faulisi - Direttore del sito 'THE LONG JOURNEY' (www.bcmai.it) per 15 anni Presidente della BCMAI (Bluegrass & Country Music Association Of Italy). Conduttore della trasmissione ‘Crossroads’ su Radio Popolare Network. |
ITALIANS DO IT BETTER ".... The CD is played excellently, with an overwhelming presence of the banjo, the pedal steel and sparkling guitars…and it seems to come back to legendary albums as Pickin’ up the Pieces or the first one of the Flying Burrito Brothers ...." ".... Il disco è suonato benissimo, con travolgenti inserti di banjo, pedal steel, chitarre scintillanti... e sembra di tornare all’epopea di album leggendari come 'Pickin’ up the Pieces' o il primo dei Fratelli Asinelli ...." Paolo Vites - Wednesday, January 21, 2009 (Ramblin -- Gamblin) |
Paolo Vites is a journalist of the Italian Rock magazine “JAM – Viaggio nella musica” (US translation ASAP) Paolo Vites è redattore della rivista musicale “JAM – Viaggio nella musica”. Ha collaborato con le maggiori testate musicali italiane, con l’americana “On The Tracks”, con diversi quotidiani nazionali e con il settimanale “Tempi”. Ha pubblicato monografie dedicate a Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Clash e Cat Stevens e collaborato alle enciclopedie rock di Arcana, Editori Riuniti e Baldini e Castoldi. È uno dei curatori della mostra Good Rockin’ Tonight, storie di 50 anni di rock, presentata al Meeting di Rimini nel 2004. |
"Here it is a CD arising from the passion for the music and proof of its universality.... an excellent CD which the fans of Folk Rock and Country music will enjoy .... Ron, besides being an interesting songwriter with californian influences, has a voice which penetretates feelings .... " "Ecco un disco che è il frutto della passione per la musica nonchè prova della sua universalità .... un ottimo disco destinato a piacere ai fans di folk rock e country americano .... Ron, oltre che un interessante songwriter di stampo californiano, ha una voce che affonda nei sentimenti .... " Raffaele Galli - Buscadero n° 308 (Gennaio 2009)
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Raffele Galli, graduated in Law, co-founder of the rock fanzine 'Happy Trails' and the rock magazine 'Il Mucchio Selvaggio', is now a regular contributor to the rock magazine 'L'ultimo Buscadero'. Country Rock and Byrds expert, is the author with Massimo Stefani and Aldo Pedron of the book 'Mentre Cala l'Oscurità' (ed LAKOTA-1978) and with Pietro Noè of 'Byrds' (ed. GAMMALIBRI-1980) Buscadero - http://www.buscadero.com/ Italian Rock Magazine |
"Nice album! Really well-played and some very sweet singing there. Nice songwriting too! I am impressed". Barnes Newberry, WUMB - Highway 61 Revisited (Boston Folk Music Radio) |
About the show: Highway 61 Revisited brings back the spirit of the Sixties when folk-rock and protest music ruled the airwaves.... About the host: Barnes was born in Providence, Rhode Island and has lived in New York City, Puerto Rico, South Florida, and Jamaica Plain, MA. He spent his college years in the Pittsburgh area, often in the right field seats at Forbes Field or Three Rivers Stadium watching Roberto Clemente excel! His music interests started with a small transistor radio and the sounds of Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, and Del Shannon in his ear. Eventually, his tastes "segued into the folk music of the 60s." One day, Barnes said he heard an electric guitar tagged onto a Bob Dylan song and it changed his life forever.... Read the whole story here / WUMB: http://www.wumb.org/ |
I’VE GOT A FAVOURITE NEW COUNTRY ROCK ALBUM "I must confess I've been out of the loop for awhile now working on several projects and this one passed me by the first time. In clearing up my usually cluttered desk I came across a CD I hadn't yet given a listen to. I'm glad I have now done so. 'Bordertown' by the Piedmont Brothers Band is an absolute delight to behold. Imagine if Dillard & Clark mk II (Dillard, Clark, Leadon, Jackson, Washburn and Corneal) had stayed together and recorded an album. 'Bordertown' might just be what it could have sounded like. Great pickin''n'singin'all round and impressive songwriting. Nice to hear musicians and singers today who understand and respect what went before them and refine it through their own experience and appreciation without damaging the goods. Nice work PBB. 'Bordertown' is my new favourite country rock album". John Einarson, Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| John Einarson is a respected Canadian rock music historian and author of 12 books including the critically-acclaimed 'Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life & Legacy of The Byrds' Gene Clark' (Backbeat Books, 2005), voted among the 20 best books of 2005 by Uncut and Record Collector, and 'Desperados: The Roots of Country Rock' (Cooper Square Press, 2001). He is the author with Chris Hillman of 'Hot Burritos: The True Story Of The Flying Burrito Brothers' (Jawbone, 2008), the first ever biography of the band. Other books includes the best-selling biography 'Neil Young: Don't Be Denied' (Quarry Press, Omnibus Press) and (with Richie Furay) 'For What It's Worth: The Story of Buffalo Springfield' (Updated edition: Cooper Square Press 2004). He is widely acknowledged as an expert on country-rock and an authority on the life and career of Neil Young. Einarson wrote the Bravo TV documentary 'Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Multimedia Life' and served as consultant for A&E/Biography Channel's Neil Young Biography episode and CBC TV's 'Life & Times of Randy Bachman' based on his biography of the Canadian music icon, 'Takin' Care of Business' (McArthur & Co., 2000). He has written for Mojo, Goldmine, Discoveries, Record Collector and Rock Express and is a frequent contributor to the Winnipeg Free Press. Einarson lives with his family in Winnipeg, Canada and teaches history at a private university prep school. |
E' impossibile parlare della Piedmont Brothers Band senza fare un piccolo riassunto della loro particolarissima storia. Parliamo di un italiano (Marco Zanzi) e di un americano (Ron Martin), che si conoscono frequentando gli stessi siti di appassionati di Byrds, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band e bluegrass in generale. Parliamo di un progetto nato a distanza di migliaia di chilometri, con Martin che scrive le canzoni in North Carolina e le invia a Zanzi, che le registra e le arrangia a Varese..... Nicola Gervasini, Roots Highway |
| Roots Highway website - Original review here |
''The Piedmont Brothers Band insures me that country, folk rock, and bluegrass are not only alive and well, they are kicking and screaming and scorching. Songs such as 'Every Day I call Your Name' evoke the rich California tradition of heart made music from our Central Valley of Buck, Merle, and Lefty. Some outstanding bluegrass banjo picking and arranging show off original songs 'Buddy´s Stomp' and 'One Morning in Monte Golico."'Overall, the musicianship is just superb with Marco Zanzi as a master of all the instruments he plays. I think his banjo playing is truly outstanding: inventive. Forceful, and with never a cliché. To him also goes the full, complete, and just right arrangements for the material. It´s never over-produced, but feels right as in 'Mason Wine/Mason Wine Breakdown' and 'Mr. Spaceman/ The Wampus Cat Song.' No, the Brothers are not afraid to tackle some serious Byrds/Gram material. Their version of 'Wheels' is deeply satisfying although I heard Gram do it, Emmy do it, and Chris do it. In other words, the material all sounds fresh. If this isn't enough, there are some roots composing by Ron Martin in songs like 'Working on A Batteau,' which you would think was vintage Norman Blake. Chicco Comolli shows how to pick a ragtime song with finesse and strength with '4F Rag.' Dirty down blues? Try Barbara Galafassi's vocals playing with Ivan Santini's guitar playing. Chicco also shows he has a firm touch with a slide guitar. The music comes from L.A., Bakersfield, and Bean Blossom. The musicians come from Italy and North Carolina. The music works both individually and as an album. Looking at the concept, one might say, 'strange.' After listening, one says, 'well done.' There is a fineness to the musicianship that is seldom heard on music which is modest by its nature but major league in its presentation. Bravo to the Piedmont Brothers Band! It leaves us asking what´s next guys?'' William Henry Koon , Anaheim, California |
| William Koon has written the linear notes for true masterpieces such 'Muleskinner' (Clarence White, Bill Keith, Peter Rowan, David Grisman and Richard Greene) and it was instrumental in the making of 'Silver Meteor' ( A progressive Country Anthology - Sierra/Briar SRS-8706, LP 1980) |
''Someone once told me that my «Recommended Albums» page only referred to my friends’ releases, no matter what the quality was. Not so. All the albums I put on this page, I really like them. Such is the case for this CD, although both main performers (Ron Martin and Marco Zanzi) are indeed «virtual» friends of mine. This CD can only appeal to Byrds fans, as both Ron and Marco are heavily influenced by The Byrds. (harmony vocals, 12 string guitar, mandolin, Parsons-White stringbender…). Although I hate the term «Country Rock», I can find no other way to label this excellent album. File under «Desert Rose Band / Flying Burrito Brothers» musical style''. Raoul Verolleman , Comines, Belgium |
| Raoul Verolleman is one of the major expert worldwide of the Rock Group 'The Byrds'. His website Byrds Flyght is an invaluable source of information for any serious Byrds fan. |
I received the CD 'Bordertown' and I must say that it’s a surprise. I like it, it’s 'sunny', full of passion: it wants to be listened. There’s a lot of 'Desert Rose Band', kind of 'longa manus' of Herb Pedersen, the Californian dream and the Colorado Mountains and a successful italo-american mix, which seems to have defeated every distance. True compliments especially to Ron as the author of the majority of the tracks’ Raffaele Galli |
| Raffele Galli, graduated in Law, co-founder of the rock fanzine 'Happy Trails' and the rock magazine 'Il Mucchio Selvaggio', is now a regular contributor to the rock magazine 'L'ultimo Buscadero'. Country Rock and Byrds expert, is the author with Massimo Stefani and Aldo Pedron of the book 'Mentre Cala l'Oscurità' (ed LAKOTA-1978) and with Pietro Noè of 'Byrds' (ed. GAMMALIBRI-1980) |
"I co-wrote 'Workin on a Batteau' with Ron Martin and want to tell you that I am very impressed with your studio treatment of our song. Bret Harold Hart, Eden, NC |
| Bret H. Hart is a North Carolina based musician and composer and can be reached at myspace.com/brethhart |
"I just have to tell you how greatly I admire what you've done with 'Working on a Batteau'. This is as good as the best production I've ever heard ... ... but the production is what makes the song sparkle, and your production pulls the listener deep into the heart of its main character ... ... Sheer artistry on the board ... and regarding the vocal harmonies: the two extra voices sound like six ..." Scott Verner, Concord, NC |
| Assigning editor for The Charlotte Observer, Scott Verner is a guitarist, vocalist, composer and arranger for more than 30 years. He has worked for a number of Bands and several recordings including South Wing, The Wooden Circus, Ron Martin and Friends and as a solo performer. |
