"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.)
‘Lights Of Your Party’ released in the United States with the Flyin 'Cloud Records label (www.flyincloudrecords.com) and in Italy by the TEMPI (www.tempi.it) publisher, is the new CD of Piedmont Brothers Band, or rather of the Piedmont Brothers Project. It follows the 2007 creation called "Bordertown", work which has met with flattering acclaim from expert critics and has had successful broadcastings both in Italy and in the United States. This new CD boasts the presence of renowned guests, among others, the "Out Of Size," Carlo Pastori, Marcello Colo` and Walter Muto from the “Signora Stracciona", Stefano Dall’Ora (one of the best European upright bassists), German guitarist Horst-Peter Schmidt, bassist Mike Gallivan of Colorado and North Carolina's bassist Mike Gallimore. In the cover notes, Raffaele Galli (Buscadero journalist) writes:
"I have been following country-rock music almost from its beginning, that is to say, since the late sixties. I met so many groups, some important and famous, others smaller and less known. But I have never come across a band with the characteristics of these Piedmont Brothers, that is, an ensemble composed of musicians from two different continents: Europe on one side, and North America on the other. A combination, that is more unique than rare, whose strong point, beyond the skill of its members, seems to be this extraordinary heterogeneity; a sort of proof that music has no boundaries. The two leaders, in fact, the multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and factotum, Marco Zanzi and singer-songwriter Ron Martin, who has a really great voice, one living at the foot of the Varese Alps and the other at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They met by correspondence, and thanks to their musical preferences, they have released, three years ago, with the support of friends of both partners, a fine record, "Bordertown", surprising many critics of the genre. Now here is the fun part: not only have they strengthened their enviable relationship of mutual respect, but they have recorded a new album and even managed to perform live, the ultimate achievement for a band like theirs. “Lights Of Your Party”, the fruit of their labors, confirms the good things demonstrated in the record and reinforces the belief that true friendship, respect and consideration are a great fuel and the musical approach from different angles and from such distances has a significantly added value. Composed mainly of original material, but with a good dose of compelling covers, it tends to broaden the known horizons. There is something more than folk this time, there is the pleasant scent of Irish music, an excellent combination of a cappella gospel, "Down In The River To Pray", which closes with the angelic voices of children who tend to hold tight not only to their faith but also to hope. Ron and Marco, still compose with inspiration, the title track of the first, from the nuanced arrangement as in the exquisite ballad "Springtime Flowers", whose music perfectly models the lyrics, are authentic musical gems. The instrumental tracks of Marco, the Anglo-Saxon "Acousticharmonies", the Irish "Bob's Spot", complete with whistles and bagpipes in support, leave you listening with real pleasure. Standing out amongst the interpretations of the brilliant performance of the Buffalo Springfield’s classic "A Child's Claim To Fame”, the delicious rustic approach to Dylan Nashville Skyline’s "One More Night", the beautiful version of "Love Hurts", the famous love song by Boudleax Bryant, where the voices of Ron and Rosella seem to not have anything to envy of those of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, the driving bluegrass medley "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues / Flint Hill Special", which successfully combines tradition and Earl Scruggs. Well done to all the musicians, from the several guitarists, to the violinist, to the accordion player and to the many voices of women, from the bass player to the drummers on call. A special mention, above all, for the German guitarist, Horst-Peter Schmidt, leader of "Starbyrd", a sort of nostrano Roger McGuinn, a guest with his twelve-string Rickenbacker in the finest country rock with two solo voices “My Brother”.
Raffaele Galli – Aprile 2011
IL BUSCADERO
(Special Thanks to Vivian Canu Caputo)
Bluegrass music need not be refried versions of Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers to be both authentic and real. Despite its deep roots and role in Americana music, it’s an idiom that continues to evolve and be re-defined, re-invented and re-interpreted in the context of both contemporary country and world music. No artist worth his or her salt wishes to stand still, even bluegrass pickers like the Piedmont Brothers. On this their second album they have crafted a gorgeously eclectic blending of contemporary bluegrass, folk, Celtic, gospel and country rock integrating a variety of instruments, styles and voices to create their own distinctive sound at times both familiar and new. Songs like the hauntingly beautiful “Bob’s Spot” bring together Celtic flavourings to a folk/bluegrass context and in so doing actually retrace the true roots of bluegrass back to the British Isles. The Piedmont Brothers (and sisters, let’s not forget) not only offer a cachet of superb original songs but expertly re-interpret the music of Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Buffalo Springfield’s Richie Furay (“A Child’s Claim To Fame” is a real treat!) and Ricky Skaggs. Their take on Boudleaux Bryant’s country chestnut “Love Hurts” will break your heart, trust me. It rivals Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris’s classic version for emotional intensity. A couple of years back I declared The Piedmont Brothers debut album my new favorite country 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 rock played with with skill, dedication and sincerity. On Lights Of Your Party they have no boundaries and are not afraid to take bluegrass into hitherto uncharted waters. This is an album of such fine quality and exquisite taste that I find myself having to declare Lights Of Your Party my new favorite album and one I will come back 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
If you listen to groups of the ‘60’s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s (and even of the ‘90’s) like The International Submarine Band, such as the “cosmic cowboy” Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Dillard and Clark, The Country Gazette, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Flying Burrito Bros., The Eagles, The Desert Rose Band and many others, you will hear a “clear sound” that has been called AMERICAN COSMIC MUSIC or more simply “Country-Rock”. 50 years after the early sixties we have just discovered a new band of this genre: The Piedmont Brothers Band - a band with an Italian - American mix that leads to, ladies and gentlemen, an astonishing result! Their new album The Piedmont Brothers Project - Lights of your Party is more than that. On this new CD you will listen to West Coast and Country-Rock music at its best and also, surprisingly, some Irish tunes with whistles, accordion and Scottish bag pipes, love-songs, bluegrass, folk-rock, gospel, a-cappella and country ballads offering a mixture of harmony and music with an extremely bright, brilliant and clean sound which will surely entice and satisfy your listening desires.
Stepping off the train at Milan station we were feeling excited as we made our way through the side streets looking for Teatro Sala Fontana. This was the theatre that the Piedmont Brothers would be performing at tonight. As we approached the locals looking for directions we realised that this was an event that meant a lot to everyone in involved. We had travelled half way around the world to be part of this historic night and our friends and brothers would be performing.
The Piedmont Brothers core members are Ron Martin and Marco Zanzi. They had formed the band back in 2006 and released the cd "Bordertown" in 2008 to critical acclaim. The concert in Milan was to promote their second release "Lights Of Your Party". Ron Martin had flown over from the USA to perform and they were backed from members of OutofSize and other guests.
The audience at Teatro Sala Fontana really got behind the band and enjoyed the bluegrass, folk and country rock music that was performed that night.
Sitting in the audience and feeling the buzz from the crowd was priceless. Ron and Marco delivered an outstanding performance which is now captured on this live recording.
If you were not part of this crowd then this CD will illustrate the power of the music and brothership that was present on stage that night.
Sit back and enjoy this concert.
My friends and yours..... The Piedmont Brothers Band
Close your eyes and imagine the time of your youth. The festivals, the age of the supergroup and the birth of country rock, all significant events in the history of music. Now the music has gone full circle as the Piedmont Brothers Band take the best of the 60's and 70's music and combine it with their own original songs. This CD entitled - III , also has the legends of country rock (Richie Furay, Rick Roberts, Herb Pedersen, Jock Bartley and Patrick Shanahan) joining the band to add their vocal and musical talents. Sit back and enjoy this journey.
We had been wanting to make an album focused on a more acoustic sound. We had tracks from previous, unreleased projects, that we updated and some alternate “takes” of some of our released tracks.
Available only as a download.
Feat. contributes of Herb Pederse, Richie Furay, Rick Roberts, Patrick Shanahan
The Piedmont Brothers Band project of Ronald Martin and Marco Zanzi has reached its fourth goal. A great idea of collaboration between the old and the new Continents based on a solid brotherly friendship and a common taste in music, has been a reality for a long time now, and has produced valuable works in country rock and beyond. Despite the genre, the artistic and material difficulties, as well as the financial and organizational ones, especially in Europe, the project has almost half a decade of life which is an extraordinary success in itself. And it is not only due to the courage and tenacity of those who began this adventure, but also to the quality and great seriousness of the music offered.
Regarding the cover songs: the American repertoire, where everything started from, seems almost endless. It is the good taste of the professionals in choosing the appropriate material which has produced three real gems: ‘Colorado’ and ‘In My Own Small Way’ by Rick Roberts and ‘And Settlin’ Down’ by Richie Furay (presented here as a duet with his daughter Jesse Furay Lynch). These songs, besides helping to write the history of Country Rock, have not missed a note of their charm after more than forty years from their appearance on the American scene thanks to the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Poco, two of the first groups of the genre.
However, the entire work finds its raison d'être and its vital lifeblood in the original compositions of the members of the PBB: the two founders and the circle of collaborators, who all share the same passion, which is becoming more and more vital and big, as well as the participation of several musicians who created, wrote and lived firsthand the roots of country rock itself. The list of the famous names is impressive in terms of quality and quantity. Together with Roberts (FBB, Firefall) and Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Southern-Hillman-Furay Band) also Gene Parsons (Nashville West, Byrds, FBB, Parsons Green), Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage, session man in many albums by other artists), 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) emerge. Their instrumental and vocal contribution in several tracks in the album is often significant and their reassuring, confident and always appropriate touch is a guarantee of satisfaction for the long-time enthusiast. Except for an inspired tribute to the songwriter Hugh Moffat, the songs written by Ron Martin and Marco Zanzi, with contributions by Ray O’Neil, Katherine Walczyk, Mike Gallivan and Rita De Cillis, are one of the real surprises of the entire work: mature, pithy compositions, containing the seed of the their favorite music genre, but totally free and original, sometimes influenced by Anglo/Scot/Irish flavors and atmospheres to complete and close the ideal and geographical circle.
The two founder-friends, at this point completely at ease with the topic, and masters of the subject, have produced here several jewels that would fit easily in a hit parade of timeless hits (and that probably will end up exactly there). “Back To The Country”, whose title is so significant in itself, is a fascinating work, a fruit of love, passion and great professionalism, of technique and taste, which is every bit as good as overseas productions that are only accomplished with exaggerated budgets. Let the first notes flow and with your great surprise they will shortly vibrate in unison with your heart.
Il progetto Piedmont Brothers Band di Ronald Martin e Marco Zanzi è arrivato al quarto traguardo. Una grande idea di collaborazione tra Vecchio e Nuovo Continente, basata su una solida fraterna amicizia e gusti musicali comuni, si è ormai da tempo concretizzata ed ha prodotto opere pregevoli in ambito country rock ed oltre. Quasi un lustro di vita, considerando il genere preso in esame, le difficoltà artistiche e materiali, organizzative e finanziarie, specie in Europa, è di per sé un successo straordinario. E tutto ciò si deve sì al coraggio ed alla tenacia di chi ha voluto questa avventura, ma anche alla bontà e alla grande serietà della proposta musicale.
Parlando di covers il repertorio d’oltreoceano, da dove tutto è partito, sembra pressoché infinito: sta proprio al buon gusto dei professionisti scegliere il materiale opportuno e qui la raffinatezza del ricercatore si è prodigata in tre vere e proprie perle. Brani come “Colorado” ed “In My Own Small Way” di Rick Roberts e “And Settlin’ Down” di Richie Furay (qui presentata in duetto con la figlia Jesse Furay Lynch), oltre ad aver contribuito a scrivere la storia del country rock, non hanno mai perso una nota del loro fascino a più di quarant’anni dal loro apparire sulle scene americane proposte dai Flying Burrito Brothers e dai Poco, due dei primi gruppi storici del genere.
Ma dove l’intero lavoro trova quasi la sua ragione d’essere e la sua linfa vitale sono nelle composizioni originali dei membri della PBB, i due fondatori e la cerchia sempre più allargata e vitale dei collaboratori accomunati dalla medesima passione, e la partecipazione di parecchi musicisti che il country rock l’hanno creato, scritto e vissuto in prima persona. E qui la lista dei nomi dei vecchi leoni è impressionante per qualità e quantità. In compagnia di Roberts (FBB, Firefall) e Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Southern-Hillman-Furay Band) spuntano Gene Parsons (Nashville West, Byrds, FBB, Parsons Green), Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage, session man in un’infinità di albums di altri artisti), Patrick Shanahan (Stone Canyon Band di Rick Nelson, New Riders of the Purple Sage) e Stephen A. Love (Stone Canyon Band, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Roger McGuinn). Il loro contributo strumentale e vocale in parecchie tracce dell’album risulta spesso determinante ed il loro tocco, confidenziale, rassicurante e sempre a proposito, una garanzia per l’appassionato di lungo corso. A parte un ispirato omaggio al cantautore Hugh Moffatt, i brani scritti da Ron Martin e Marco Zanzi, coadiuvati e aiutati di volta in volta da Ray O’ Neil, Katherine Walczyk, Mike Gallivan e Rita De Cillis, sono di per se stessi una delle vere sorprese dell’intero lavoro: composizioni mature, pregnanti, contenenti il seme del genere musicale prediletto, ma del tutto emancipate ed originali, a volte mediate da sapori ed atmosfere angloscotoirlandesi per completare e chiudere il cerchio ideale e geografico.
I due amici promotori, ormai a loro completo agio con l’argomento e padroni della materia, si prodigano in un paio di gioielli che non sfigurerebbero affatto in una hit parade di singoli senza tempo (e che probabilmente finiranno per trovare la loro giusta collocazione proprio in quella sede). “Back To The Country”, titolo di per sé un programma, è un lavoro affascinante, frutto di amore, passione e grande professionalità, di tecnica e di gusto, che nulla ha da invidiare a realizzazioni d’oltreoceano miracolate da un budget mirabolante. Lasciate scorrere le prime note, con vostra grande sorpresa in brevissimo tempo vibreranno all’unisono col vostro cuore.
This Album is dedicated with my deepest gratitude to the surgeon Prof. Alessandro Zerbi and his fantastic team, to the Oncologic Day Hospital Department and the Radiation Therapy Department c/o the "Humanitas" Clinic & Research Center located in Rozzano / Milan (Italy)
http://www.humanitas.it
This song was wrritten by Cludio Chieffo and Stefano dall'Ora in the 1980.
It's edited by Galletti-Boston SRL (SIAE)
The profit of the sales will go to the BANCO NON SOLO PANE - VARESE
Tutti i proventi della vendita andranno al BANCO NON SOLO PANE - VARESE
http://www.bancononsolopane.org/
Arranged by Marco Zanzi (SUISA)
Cecilia Zanzi: Lead and Harmony Vocals
Marco Zanzi: 6&12 Strings Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Bass, Percussion and Harmony Vocals
A great collection of originals and traditional Christmas songs. This is the first Album of the singer Cecilia Zanzi. Perfect for the Season, you'll enjoy it!
Marco wants to dedicate this project to the Doctors Chiara Tronconi and Silvia Bozzarelli of the HUmanitas Cancer Research Insitute (Rozzano-Italy): may God Bless them and their families.
Special thanks to Manuela Huber and Simone Veronelli and all the IRD/APPALOOSA/MRM crew.
