MP3 Gene Hardy - Blow! Blow! Blow!
Showcases the athletic & soulful saxophone work of Gene Hardy, Canada''s foremost R&B tenor sax player. Bluesey, soulful, jazzy, churchy; largely instrumental with vocal highlights.
11 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Jazzy Blues, JAZZ: Swing/Big Band
Details:
QUIPS, QUOTES & EPIGRAMS about GENE HARDY
"Killer...Gene Hardy is the embodiment of improvisational wizardry...one of the finest tenor players in the business."
Bill Rymer / FREQ Magazine
"Gene''s my right hand man - my Sam Butera!" Michael Buble / saloon singer
"The man''s a monster!"
John Taylor / reviewer, https://www.tradebit.com
"Hardy cuts a figure in the tradition of the great R&B tenor men...cocky, sophisticated and rambunctious with loads of panache..."
Prakash John / bass, FUNKADELIC/LOU REED; founder, The LINCOLNS
"Gene Hardy is a master showman and a superb musician.
Whether on CD or on stage, he delivers the goods!"
Mick Martin
NPR''s "The Blues Party" (KXJZ, Sacramento; KKTO, Tahoe City/Reno; KUOP. Stockton/Modesto)
"A saxophonist with great energy and flare for the unusual. Love his commitment"
Lance Anderson / organist & producer, MAKEITREAL RECORDS
"One of the finest horn players in the country" Virgil Scott / star of SONGS MY SISTER PLAYED
"I have all his records!"
Dorothy Hardy, Gene''s mom
"Gene Hardy stands at the summit of Canadian R&B saxophonists...a world-class player"
Gary Tate / TO NITE Magazine
"Big Gene! You''re the one I like! Let''s rock!"
Rompin'' Ronnie Hawkins / legend, teen idol
"Get a load of those shoes!"
Ruth Livingstone / bystander, Sacramento CA
"Gene''s horn speaks to the heart. He''s an inspiration whenever I hear or share a stage with him."
Bill Johnson / guitarist, AMOS GARRET/DONALD RAY JOHNSON/CASH McCALL/SON SEALS
"Gene is one of the finest saxophonists I''ve ever worked with."
Chuck Jackson / singer, DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND
"Who are you? What are you doing on my stage?"
Donnie Walsh / founder, DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND
"Death defying sonic leaps, barnyard sounds, rapid fire staccato and a big fat
smoky growl...don''t be afraid; it''s just your typical outing on a Gene Hardy solo!"
Raymond Mitchell / The NEWS
"Gene Hardy''s got the look, the showmanship and - most importantly - the goods to deliver. He''s one of the most entertaining, atmospheric and intelligent sax players on the scene. The energy he brings to a room is of the nuclear variety."
Al Kirkcaldy / host "Blue In The Face" CFFF 92.7 FM - Peterborough ON
"Gene Hardy is a sax machine!"
Jaymz Bee / host "Jazz In The City" https://www.tradebit.com 91.1 and RJO Bandleader
"Gene Hardy and his saxophone epitomizes the musical exsufflation -
he can blow up a storm on any calm sea."
Phil Ball / CEO Iridescent Music Inc.
"A great old-school R&B tenor stylist in the tradition of Junior Walker and King Curtis."
Ira Dodson / SELECT PRESS
"BLOW!BLOW!BLOW! is a real swinger!"
Kjell Andreassen / host RADIO HOLSTEBRO Denmark
"Gene Hardy in one word...effervescent!"
Danny Marks / guitar guru & broadcaster; host "https://www.tradebit.com" https://www.tradebit.com 91.1 & CBC Radio
"Gene never let''s the crowd off easy. When he and the saxophone connect, the magic begins - everyone comes under his spell."
Paul Wainwright / THE BIG BAND TRIO
"Gene Hardy is the best guitar player that ever picked up a saxophone!"
guitarissimo Phil Kane aka The WINDSOR TWISTER
"Gene Hardy gives his all - every time!"
Brian "Colorblind" Blain / managing editor, Maple Blues Magazine
"Never mind the music - my kudos go to the wardrobe, hair & makeup people!"
Dr. Hilly Sands Esq.
About GENE HARDY
Canada''s foremost R&B saxophonist, GENE HARDY began his musical journey on violin at age 9 then on saxophone a year later in Victoria, British Columbia. After studies at Victoria''s Conservatory of Music & UVic, he moved to Toronto in 1986 and traded in his classical pursuits for a post-graduate degree in funk with Toronto''s infamous Bourbon Tabernacle Choir.
Chances are, you''ve heard him play. Since the Bourbon''s mid ''90s break-up, Gene has become the horn player of choice for many of Canada''s best known exports & domestic
successes. He''s recorded and performed in the US & Canada with Michael Bublé and is the latest addition to Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Hawkins'' band,
The Hawks. In fact, Gene has recorded and performed with hundreds of acts - pop & rock, jazz & blues, country to punk and everything in between with the likes of BARENAKED LADIES, MICHAEL BUBLE, ESTHERO, BIG SUGAR, COLIN JAMES, DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND, RONNIE HAWKINS, TYLER YAREMA & HIS RHYTHM, RHEOSTATICS, The LINCOLNS, HOCK WALSH, ROGER CLOWN, VEDA HILLE, QUE VIDA, KEVIN QUAIN & The MAD BASTARDS, BIG DADDY G, FORD PIER (of DOA), DUTCH MASON, STOOPY, TABARRUK, MICHAEL KAESHAMMER, The BOURBON TABERNACLE CHOIR, Dr HILLY SAND ESQ. and Jamaica''s THIRD WORLD.
And that''s just the tip of the iceberg! (Want the complete list? Visit https://www.tradebit.com & click on ''BANDS'')
He typically performs well over 300 shows a year.
For the past 5 consecutive years, Gene''s been nominated as HORN PLAYER OF THE YEAR by the Canadian Blues Awards in recognition for his extensive contributions, both live and in the recording studio.
All about BLOW! BLOW! BLOW!
GENE HARDY''s debut CD, entitled BLOW! BLOW! BLOW!, captures his swinging & powerful Texas-tenor playing style. It''s also a robust collection of blues, jump tunes, jazz classics and his own compositions that neatly showcases Mr. Hardy''s versatility and depth. Featured on the CD are performances from some of Canada''s finest musical talent, including cameos by guitar slinger Danny Marks and Toronto blues-belter Laura Hubert (Leslie Spit Tree-o). If that''s not enough, Gene''s already recording the follow-up CD - possibly a double album - in Toronto and Vancouver with his new 15 piece band. A 2006 release date and title will be announced as the project nears completion.
And what else is he up to?
Hardy has also released two CDs with his band SPARKJIVER. The title of their newest CD aptly describes what they do:
FUNKYBLUESYJAZZYCHURCHY
Wanna hear some? Well, you''re in luck...Gene has included several SPARKJIVER cuts on Blow! Blow! Blow!
(see the liner notes for which ones they are)
A summer residency for SPARKJIVER at Toronto''s famed Orbit Room (owned by RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson)
saw many notable guest artists join the band onstage, sometimes for a song, sometimes for a whole set.
Gene Hardy - BLOW! BLOW! BLOW!
Track-By-Track
1. HONKY TONK (Part 2)
It''s always good to start with a blues tune!
A bonus horn section addition to Gene''s reworking of Bill Doggett''s chestnut.
2. Lester Leaps In
A lively up-tempo "Rhythm Changes" number with "the combo".
3. Sweet Lotus Blossom
A smoky viper tune. This one features a blissed-out vocal take from Laura Hubert and the sweeping genius of Dennis Keldie at the Hammond organ.
4. Quay Waltz
Soulful gospel blues caught live at the fabulous Silver Dollar in Toronto during SPARKJIVER''s most recent residency. No studio trickery here - this is how it went down!
5. Down In Dallas
A Patsy Cline tune! Features pedal steel legend Al Brisco on the "funny neck"!
6. Georgia
It''s Hoagy time with the combo...a standard in standard time.
7. Geep''s Blues
A spirited no-holds-barred tenor outing.
One of Gene''s tunes inspired by tenor titan Big Jay McNeeley
8. Wham!
Relentless rockin'' surf music from the pen of guitar great Lonnie https://www.tradebit.comtures Danny Marks on guitar and "Hamilton Dan" Lockwood on drums.
9. Since I Fell For You
Keldie & Hubert appear again in this whisper-to-a-scream rendition of Buddy Johnson''s great standard.
10. Harlem Nocturne
Gene''s passion - the great melody by Earl Hagen.
This version features Jono Grant on astonishing guitar support - the high-wire act of the album.
11. Cleanin'' Out The Attic
Gene borrowed this jump tune from The Big Band Trio - now a staple of SPARKJIVER''s live show.