Leigh Taylor's WaterMark Tribe
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Leigh Taylor's WaterMark Tribe

Spring Valley, California, United States | INDIE

Spring Valley, California, United States | INDIE
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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"San Diego Troubadour"

In the space of six tracks on their new EP, Spring Valley Christian rockers Leigh Taylor's WaterMark Tribe seem to demonstrate the old adage that less is more. The Tribe's Live Studio Tracks Volume 1 offers Taylor on acoustic guitar and powerful vocals, exotic percussion by Roy Robinson, bass by Frank Sarmiento, and Tim Gamelle's soaring sax work, all playing Taylor's songs and offering diverse musical styles. The lyrical message is spiritual, personal, by turns anguished and celebratory. Some of the songs are basically musical prayers, but they are prayers with a world beat.
The strength of the music here is ability of the stripped-down group to convey a different sonic atmosphere on each track. "I Will Obey" opens, a hymn of soulful surrender with a West African feel. Choppy guitar chords introduce the reggae of "My Addiction," Taylor's sacrifices, about how "we're all being cooked in the same stew." "We Should All Be Ashamed" has an ace percussion touches, funky, and hard R&B rhythm guitar that manage a musical snapshot of gritty urban life and it's challenges for the Christian. The disc highlight follows, as both Taylor's consciousness and alto sax freely flow over brisk, galloping guitar and drums, "My Heart Is Glad." Wrapping things up is a tropically-framed prayer, "Send Me," which has an upbeat pop hook.
The WaterMark Tribe cover plenty of musical ground while Taylor's devotional message is never lost, and the result is something new, different and interesting in contemporary Christian music.
by Frank Kocher - Liz Abbott & Chuck Schiele


Discography

Multiple Listenings;
Leigh Taylor Band: Live!;
Listen Up!;
The Tribe's Live Studio Tracks Volume 1

Photos

Bio

Leigh Taylor’s Watermark Tribe

Leigh Taylor
Starting with his first television performance at age four, Leigh Taylor has lived a musical life. He has established himself as a unique singer/songwriter in the Christian music field, working solo and with various backing ensembles.
Those who have heard Leigh perform remember his powerful vocals and musical mastery, but also his humor. He delivers the gospel message with a distinctly personal style that engages listeners of all ages and backgrounds.
Highlights of Leigh’s career include his work with Dunamis, a band that most agree was way ahead of it’s time, Moon Cookies, a popular band of the 1990’s, The Leigh Taylor Band which performed throughout the western U.S. for several years, and his current project, Leigh Taylor’s Watermark Tribe. Among his many vocations, Leigh also works as an actor, music producer, and voiceover artist.

Roy Robinson
From his Native American roots to his later interest in Afro-Cuban music, Roy Robinson has absorbed percussion styles from around the world. His diverse influences and diligent study over 30 years have earned him a reputation as an expert congero and hand percussionist, in demand for recording projects, jazz performances and church worship. His teachers have included master drummers from Cuba and West Africa, as well as his home turf of San Diego.

Tim Gamelle
As an all-around reedman, Tim Gamelle has played his saxophone with ensembles large and small for over 30 years. He is a versatile musician in great demand in southern California, and has played with several important names in the rock, blues, funk and jazz genres. In his current role with Leigh Taylor’s Watermark Tribe, he doubles on alto and soprano sax, as well as the melodica. Tim also teaches music in the San Diego area.

Al Cablay
Since picking up his first instrument at the age of 12 - the ukelele, Al Cablay has been a Musician. As with most late baby-boomers the music of that era did much to guide and influence him. Al played sparingly through his high school years choosing instead to also play high school sports. But he renewed his music interest while in college taking fundamental music courses and lessons from such notables as the late Hideo Chino and Ted Greene. Later Al’s journey led him to GIT (AKA Musicians Institute). There he sat in classes and seminars with many legendary players, Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Joe Diorio, Les Wise, Ron Eschete, as well as contemporary guitarists Larry Carlton, Robben Ford and Steve Lukather. Al’s personal peers have included Kim Hutchcroft (Seawind Horns), Chuck Butler (Parable), Lenny LeBlanc as well as local players such as Peter Sprague, Jeff Snider and Kiko Cibrian.

Al’s influences can be heard in his playing – whether it is on bass guitar or just guitar. It is a sum of the parts as that adage states…the melodies flow from his Hawaiian roots thru a musical filter that include all of the influences from those artists he has studied under, performed with and continues to be inspired by.