The unusual format – buzzing with the brilliant dynamic of the four
members – guitar, trumpet, bass and cajón (flamenco box drum) is powerfully well-rounded: intimate, through the use of the cajón yet sharply defined by the trumpet. All of which provides a crafted platform for Wall's soaringly lyrical voice.
"Supremely tight ensemble", Hotpress, Ireland
Since his critically-acclaimed acoustic debut album All of the Above, Garrett’s music has come full circle: through the divergent rock-based albums Changeand Gravity to an international and instrumentally diverse co-operation on his last album Daylight, Nightime (Junk Records, 2006). His latest material – launched at the Edinburgh festival – achieves a satisfying cohesion of instrumentation and delivery, combining musical depth with unusual acoustic simplicity. The “hand-picked” format of guitar, trumpet, bass and cajón delivers a sound that is at once powerfully well-rounded – buzzing with the brilliant dynamic of the four members – intimate, through the use of the cajón instead of drums, yet sharply defined by the wit of a solo trumpet. All of which provides a crafted platform for Wall's voice – in the best traditions of Irish singer-songwriters – emotive, evocative and soaringly lyrical, combining
“the poetry of James Taylor, [with] the swing of Bryan Ferry with the magic of Jeff Buckley”, Rolling Stone, Spain
His compositions are, in his own words bright, lively and optimistic, each with its own captivating melody: they speak of life, love, loss and hope ... with a sincerity and vulnerability that comes when an artist truly bares his soul.
The new album, "Sky Pointing", features 5 new songs and 5 older tracks reworked with the new line-up and was mixed in Nashville by long time Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin (Chilli Peppers, Def Jam) collaborator David Ferguson and is already creating a buzz in music circles there. It will see a full commercial release in 2008.
Garrett Wall Voice and guitar: (Ireland) sings and composes for both television and cinema in Spain and "These Days ", from album "Gravity", was featured as part of the soundtrack to spanish film Amor En Defensa Propia (Rafa Russo). Wall was also invited by the director to sing a version of the theme song Shattered. A recent collaboration with Chicote and swedish singer Carita Bronska has lead to the inclusion of "Shangri-La" in the Santiago Segura movie La Maquina de Bailar. As a songwriter he has collaborated with writers/artists such as Paul Williams, Rob Burke, Chema Lara, Julio Fowler, Luis Barberia, Jill Sobule, Gary Nicholson, Christine Collister.
Robbie K Jones Cajón (flamenco box drum):(USA) is an internationally experienced master of musical camouflage. His diverse style encompasses everything from traditional Irish, flamenco, rock to bluegrass and gypsy jazz and drives the sound with a lightness of touch, yet with such potency as to supplant the sound of the full drum kit, in a way that is refreshingly different.
Dave Mooney Electric bass:(Ireland) (who also credits a part in Iciar Bollain’s award-winning film "Te Doy Mis Ojos") is the steel girder of the band, adding depth and raunchiness from his diverse experience in Madrid playing everything from Irish, blues, country and western to Elvis-style rock.
Howard Brown Trumpet:(UK) has the technique of a jazzer but doesn’t let it over-complicate his punching riffs and anthemic solos. He has also played front man for the Madrid-based funk band Watch Out that recently shared billing with The James Taylor Quartet.
Having performed at the Edinburgh fringe festival in 2007 with an astonishing 25 concerts in 7 days the band have well and truly cut their teeth and look forward to sinking them into more choice gigs around Ireland, Spain and beyond...
© garrett wall band 2008