Lou Wamp
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Lou Wamp

Band Country Bluegrass

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"Lou Wamp - ResOlution"

"Perhaps no other instrument represents the melting pot of American music better than the resonator guitar, especially when placed in the hands of a deft artist like Georgia native Lou Wamp. Invented during the 1920's, the resonator guitar was built for Hawaiian and dance orchestras, but wound up in the hands of blues, hillbilly, and jazz musicians - artists who likely influenced Wamp's fine debut recording. On ResOlution, Wamp slides through the aforementioned styles with the greatest of ease and precision. From the atmospheric "Spooky Pass" and sultry "Firewoman Blues" to the hoedown of "Oldsmobile Brokedown" and heavenly "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", Wamp demonstrates his expressive six-string skills on an instrument worthy of such range and emotion." (MS) Dirty Linen - Nov., 2005 - Dirty Linen - Nov., 2005


"Lou Wamp - ResOlution"

"Lou Wamp's slide rules! Wamp is an exceptional resonator guitarist with his own unique new acoustic flair. Wamp's album starts with the sound of birds, an owl and Tom Roady's light percussion on an original "Spooky Pass" that allows all of his Nashville sidemen to shine (Byron House on bass, Butch Baldassari on mandolin, and Jim Hurst on guitar). Some of the other eight originals include Andy Leftwich (fiddle), Justin Moses (banjo, bass, guitar, fiddle), Jessica Lovell (violin), Lynn Wamp (arco bass), or Mark Howard (percussion). Talented multi-instrumentalist Moses played with Wamp in the band, Blue Moon Rising.

In addition to the originals are two covers - Leon McAuliffe's "Pandhandle Rag" and George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." The comfortable familiarity of these two pieces are relaxing and refreshing in the overall set of largely original music. Readily admitting that his music is not all traditional bluegrass, Wamp prefers to call it "artgrass," a moniker originated by Byron House to describe their jazzy, new acoustic, bluesy sound. The best example of their firework fingers is on "Oldsmobile Brokedown," a technically impressive piece written as a tribute to the late Gene Wooten. Featured on Volume 74 of "Prime Cuts of Bluegrass," this composition is getting good airplay, even as far from Nashville as The Netherlands.

Wamp has over 20 years in the music business, but he's also an architect, painter, archaeologist, and father to six kids. Besides being a sought after slideman sideman, he certainly has the skill to be a solo artist in his own right. Born in Ft. Benning, Ga. in 1956, Lou had plenty of music (from Elvis to Travis, Bach to the Beatles) around home while growing up. After piano lessons and playing guitar in his high school jazz band, a broken wrist encouraged him to take up resonator guitar. Gene Wooten became a close friend and mentor. Lou played on "Sidemen" nights at the Station Inn and was in a band called Hiwassee Ridge that performed at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville. Other bands he's worked with include James Monroe and the Midnight Ramblers, The Dismembered Tennesseans, Cowjazz, In Cahoots, The Cumberland Trio, Blue Moon Rising, and others.

With the release of ResOlution, Wamp's artistic and expressive playing and outstanding songwriting will take center stage and earn him even greater fame.

Wamp's dobro playing showcases his expert mastery of hand positions, pull-offs, hammer-ons, picking patterns, bar slants, rolls, and picking sequences. Produced by Butch Baldassari, "ResOlution" is an album that slides in an engaging musical groove." Joe Ross - Joe Ross' Talent on Display


Discography

ResOlution (2004) Triple L Music 0104
produced by Butch Baldassari

Wizards of Swing (2006) Triple L Music 0206
produced by Butch Baldassari and Lou Wamp

Hornography (2008) Left of Center Records
engineered by Randy Kohrs

All tracks on these projects have had streaming and radio airplay. Prominently featured have been "Audrey's Last Dive" and "Oldsmobile Brokedown" from the CD "ResOlution". "Oldsmobile Brokedown" was featured on Prime Cuts of Bluegrass #74.

'Heart of Alabama', an original song of mine was released by Justin Moses (w/ Blue Moon Rising)
on his debut solo album, "Dusty Roads"

Lou will be featured on an upcoming CD tribute (release date: Dec.9, 2008) to resophonic guitar maker Tim Scheerhorn, contributing an original cut, "Drivin' the Nails", along with cuts from Randy Kohrs, Rob Ickes, Andy Hall, Sally Van Meter, Billy Cardine, Mike Witcher, Bruce Boughton, Justin Moses, and more.

Photos

Bio

My music began with classical training on piano from age 8-14. Influences from Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to Beatles, Led Zeppelin, CSN & Young, James Taylor, Credence etc...began guitar at age 13. I played guitar in high school Jazz Band and local rock and folk bands through college years. Post college, I
began playing dobro with bluegrass acts, Hiwassee Ridge and The Dismembered Tennesseans and added mandolin and fiddle to my skills.
Influences from Flatt and Scruggs, Hank Williams, Bob Wills to Mike Auldridge, Ricky Skaggs,
David Grisman, Mark O'connor, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bela Fleck and Alison Krauss.
Toured with James Monroe and the Midnight Ramblers, playing dobro and performing with Bill Monroe. Toured with Blue Moon Rising, won IBMA showcase, released acclaimed debut Resophonic project of original music, 'ResOlution' produced by Butch Baldassari. Formed band to tour projects including Swing Shift project, co-produced with Baldassari. What sets us apart form many other bands is our love of instrumental music and ability to go seamlessly from baroque to jazz to blues to western swing to bluegrass to pop and back again.
Also, we perform original compositions reflecting this broad background.