Music
Press
"They're not the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do" read a billboard on the side of San Francisco's Winterland, where the Grateful Dead played many of their epic shows. Anyone who ever reveled in one - or more likely many - of the Dead's bacchanalian extravaganzas will agree. The ecstasy of the Dead's seemingly never-ending tour concluded in 1995 with the death of lead guitarist Jerry Garcia. Other members of the Dead have soldiered on, but the true spirit of the Dead has been kept alive by less corporate musicians such as Sonoma County's Chris Bramble.
The singer-songwriter and guitarist has just released his debut cd "Laugh At the Wind", a celebration of Dead-inspired sentiments celebrating everything from the beauty of a red-tailed hawk's wing to the stumbles we make as we navigate the roads of life. Bramble's guitar carries the album on its merry way, through the Calypso-infused "We Dance the Night Away", which would be right at home on a David Lindley album, to a song dedicated to the late eco-activist Judi Bari ("And the Sky Cried"). Another strong influence is Fairport Convention. The folkie ballad "Widow's Tears" would make Richard Thompson proud.
Bramble plays feel-good music without getting sappy. And, like the Dead's music, as inspriring as it is on disc, Bramble's artistry is best enjoyed live. To spread the positive vibrations, Bramble and his band are headlining a show on Jan. 20 to benefit Food Not Bombs, a grassroots organization that provides free vegetarian food to hungry people across the globe. Opening the show is Madera Humana, playing what they call "California gypsy grass."
"Cool people getting their hands dirty doing what it takes to take care of people who are at their lowest and scratching for enough to eat," Bramble says when describing Food Not Bombs. "Some of their people have been tortured in foreign countries because they are taken as revolutionaries-which they are, just non-violent ones."
This, too, hews to to the spirit of the Dead, a band that donated generously to such groups as Seva and Rainforest Action Network. But, unlike most big-time benefits with triple-digit ticket prices, Bramble's show is just 10 bucks. Not bad for a night that promises a good time and supports a worthy cause. - Bohemian
Chris Bramble's positive and uplifting music soothes and energizes simultaneously. His songs are the expression of someone aware of his priorities - spiritual, emotional, political, and musical. Terry Ann Gillette's violin provides poignant accent and counterpoint to Bramble's voice. The whole band blends into a swirl of motion that can get your feet moving or your mind spinning. I feel blessed in listening. - Kit Mariah - kggv-fm radio
Chris Bramble is a singer/songwriter who embodies the Jam-Band spirit in a folkie kind of way. If you turn this album down low you feel like you are outside a Dead show trying to get in... If you turn it up you will smile, laugh, dance, cry, and remember what life is all about. - Alice Di Micele - Singer/Songwriter
"Chris Bramble creates a swirling of dancers - a jam band vibe, a little calypsoish, a bit jug band, some thunder with a wisp of mist...an upbeat space jam, reggae, folk blues twine of melodies uncanned and roots raw. It's flow, nothing less flavorful."
~Maria Halyna - Spin Spam Spun Productions
Political awareness and social consciousness were the driving forces behind the majority of the 60's and early 70's music scenes. Singers and songwriters were outspoken critics of the unjust war in Vietnam, women's rights and environmental issues. What happened? Why don't artists today speak to the pressing issues that plague the world? Even U2 has gotten lax. With a moppy head of hair and Lennon-esque spectacles, Chris Bramble lets his freak flag fly while he pens tunes that would make Pete Seeger proud. However, rather than spewing out protest songs, his music has an exceedingly positive vibe, both lyrically and musically, Influenced by such diverse artists as Bob Marley, John Coltrane and early Grateful Dead, the Chris Bramble Band is self-described as danceable, improvisational, inspirational folk-rock. The psychedelic quintet of Terry Ann Gillette (violin), Paul Lamb (bass), Bradley Leach (drums), Paul Best (percussion) and Bramble on guitar, vocals and unisonix released its debut "Laugh at the Wind", in 2006. The disc effortlessly blends reggae, folk, traditional Appalachian and Celtic, and jam band influences together. While they may be out of step with pop culture, they are a refreshing change of pace from the superficial mainstream. - Weekly Volcano (Tacoma, WA)
Discography
"Laugh at the Wind"
with tracks
"We Dance the Night Away"
"Other Side of this World" currently getting radio airplay.
Photos
Bio
"EVERY FACET OF BEING ALIVE INSPIRES ME MUSICALLY.
Symphadelic… the word means many things to many people…no, you won’t find it in your Webster’s. One fan used this word to describe the music of the Chris Bramble Band. The conglomeration of symphonic and psychedelic is an apt description of this San Francisco Bay area band’s sound, which ranges from thundering to whispering, with swirling multi-colored hues throughout. OK…that says absolutely nothing. A more meaningful description would be danceable, improvisational, inspirational, psychedelic folk-rock that can be conceptualized as a blend of Steve Kimock meets David Lindley meets Richard Thompson…stirred, not shaken. The intention and philosophy of the music is rooted in reality: Both the intangible realities of consciousness and spirit while not shying away from the tangible realities of human experience and social injustice, nurturing the ability to smile and dance our way through it all. This intention is reflected in the personal philosophies of the individual band members and is expressed lyrically, melodically and rhythmically both on stage and in the band’s recently released CD “Laugh at the Wind”.
The CD is named after the title track which is a song encouraging us all to plow through the adversities of life with laughter. "We Dance the Night Away" is currently recieving the most airplay, including the nationally syndicated "Dead Hour", appropriate as it relates experiences from being on tour. Also included in this press kit is "And the Sky Cried" - a song is in memory of environmental activist Judi Bari who dedicated her life to stopping the clear cutting of the redwood forests in the Pacific Northwest during the ravages of the 80's.
The basic tracks for "Laugh at the Wind" were recorded live in the studio keeping in alignment with the band's musical philosophy of playing real and in the moment.
The talented bunch of musicians contributing to this sound consists of Chris Bramble on guitar and vocals, Paul Lamb on bass, Bradley Leach on drums, Terry Ann Gillette on violin, and Paul Best on percussion. Chris Bramble, the benign despot and songwriter of the band, started out by singing in the church choir at the age of 7 and picking up the guitar at age 12. He accompanied his parents to many environmental music festivals, casting the early seeds of Chris’s need to tie together music, social activism, spirit and a deep appreciation for the environment. Chris began studying music formally, resulting in a degree in Computer Science with Applications to Music. His musical evolution began in the folk world (Leadbelly, Simon and Garfunkel) and traversed through hard rock (Zeppelin, Deep Purple) before discovering the psychedelic rock sounds of San Francisco’s 60’s era (Dead, Airplane). These disparate influences remain in the mix and are complemented by strands of roots reggae (Marley, Toots) and free jazz (Trane, Miles). He has shared the stage with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Mother Hips, and Caroline Aiken, among others.
Paul Lamb brings many years of improvisational experience, as well as extensive studio engineering and producing, (Sammy Hagar and Mickey Hart). His musical past includes stints in Los Angeles punk and prog-rock outfits. Paul’s other musical efforts include Sonoma County talismanic folk group Black Bird Stitches and Germany’s psychedelic cult favorite Burnt Noodle.
Bradley Leach started playing music at age 9 on the saxophone but soon found his true instrument – the drums. He crossed paths with Paul Lamb in the LA hard rock, punk scene. Bradley brings music influenced by jazz and funk and a heavy dose of swing and folk. He has performed in bands that include members of Zero and the James Brown Band as well as Les Claypool and Eric Lindell.
If Paul and Bradley provide the thunder to the harmony, violinist Ananta De Tally provides the lightning. She has performed the world over, and her electric and acoustic violins have graced the music of such artists as Jaya Lakshmi, Geoffrey Gordon, Daniel Paul, Manose, Joanne Rand & the Band, Cryptic Coloration, Mystic Family Circus, Land of the Blind, and The Spiral Mystics
Paul Best’s musical journey has taken him from playing electric bass and keyboards in New York City and Los Angeles dance bands (Day 15, I AM) to Native American flute to hand drums. Paul provides rhythmic flourishes and world beat threads as part of the band’s musical tapestry.
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