Biography
"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.
Instrumentation
Chris Bramble: guitars & vocals
Ananta De tally: violin
Paul Lamb: bass
Bradley Leach: drums
Paul Best: percussion
Discography
"Laugh at the Wind"
with tracks
"We Dance the Night Away"
"Other Side of this World" currently getting radio airplay.
Links
| http://www.chrisbramble.com |