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We Are All One
Now Available on
iTUNES, APPLE MUSIC, SPOTIFY, PANDORA, DEZZER, YOUTUBE, AND AMAZON
&
Michael Falzarano & Extended Family
We Are All One
Featuring
Vassar Clements, Melvin Seals, Buddy Cage,
Jorma Kaukonen, Garth Hudson, Professor Louie,
Kerry Kearney, Kane Daily, Jimmy Fleming,
Jimmy Eppard and Dave Castiglione
with
Harvey Sorgen, Pete Sears, Jon Marshall Smith, Ray Grappone, Peter Bennett,
Chris Matheos, Charlie Wolfe, Eileen Murphy, Frank Celenza,
Vicki Bell, Klyph Black, Tommy Circosta,
Miss Marie, Mike Dunn, David Malachowski and Gary Burke
The who, what, when, where and why about this CD
We Are All One, my third solo album, is a 14-song CD featuring a collection of musicians I call The Extended Family. It contains 12 originals, 10 by me, two by me and my friend Kerry Kearney, We Are All One (acoustic) and To Let The Fire Die and two covers, Candy Man and How Long Blues. And most especially, it happens to contain some of the last known studio recordings by our old friend, the late fiddle virtuoso Vassar Clements.
The CD took longer to get out then I would have liked, but that’s just the way it is sometimes. The main reason for the delay was that I started playing with the New Riders of the Purple Sage a few years ago and that took off like a rocket and kept me pretty occupied. Now that things have settled down a bit in that world, I was able to concentrate on this project and get it out to you. This was an exciting project to work on as I got to work with old friends and some of my favorite musicians on the planet.
A little bit about the cover and the title song. On the cover behind me giving the "We are All One" salute are the symbols of the 9 major world religions. Realizing the world is in a bad place right now it just seems to me that if we don't get it together and come together as one people we're doomed. It also seems to me that at the core of much of this world turmoil is one religion or another fighting against the other for longer then anyone can remember. Now, I realize that it's the fanatics that drive that bus but I just feel more can be done by the people in and leaders of all these religions. It's time for us all to take a stand and say enough is enough. I know that this might sound a little naive and an over simplification of the world situation, but why not. "We are all one, Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Daughter, Son". And that was my head space when I wrote the lyrics and later came up with the concept for the cover. Now, the the CD was never meant to be a heavy message driven project and it's not. I just felt I wanted to put the concept out there, We Are All One.
About the songs and players
The sessions with Vassar Clements were very special to me as this was the last time we played together before his passing. He was on fire that night and we had a blast recording the tunes. Pretty much here’s how it went: we ran the songs down one or two times and then cut them. The first one we cut was the old Reverend Gary Davis song, Candy Man. I remember Vassar commenting that he hadn’t played that one before. He tore it up, in my opinion. Take a listen and see what you think. Next we did a song I wrote call It’s My Own Fault. We listened and he decided that he would play the two bridges - the second half of the solo section and the vamp at the end. It worked out great. When we were done he asked what I called this type of song. I said, “Now, Hillbilly Funk.” He smiled. Then we did two more of my tunes - Big Fish which didn’t make it to this project, and When There’s Two There’s Trouble. We had played When There’s Two live a few times, so he just laid into it and let it rip. That was a great night in the studio and one I’ll never forget.
Working in the studio with Buddy Cage is always a pleasure. He comes in, takes a listen, and lays down the track like he’s been playing it his whole life. That’s the way it is with him. He played great stuff on all the tracks he played on - New Shirt, When There’s Two There’s Trouble, To Let The Fire Die and Gonna Power Down Now. The last tune, Gonna Power Down Now, was especially interesting for me because it was such a fluke of a tune anyway. Along with my band The Memphis Pilgrims, we had recorded the title track for the Dennis Rodman made-for-TV movie Bad As I Wanna Be, which was based on his best selling book of the same title. Long story short, it was late in the evening - actually early morning - and the guys and I were still in the recording room, instruments in hand, when the engineer leaned into the talk back mic and said, “If you guys are done for the night, I’m gonna power down now.” But just as he said that I started to play an idea that I had for an instrumental; the other guys joined in, and luckily the engineer hit record and caught it on tape. But that wasn’t the end of the story. I had the song in the can for a while but when I went back to work on the multitrack I was told by the studio that it was lost, never to be found again. So all I had was the two track rough which I must say sounded pretty good. So I used it and had Buddy overdub onto it. So that track is not only a first time, first take but the only take . Buddy took off on it.
I don’t have to tell anyone what a monster Melvin Seals is on the Hammond Organ. We were on the same label for awhile and played a show together along with Buddy Cage in NY, so the next day with the help of Richard Sisselman we were able to get in the studio and cut some tracks with my old friends from the Memphis Pilgrims backing us. Needless to say, he nailed them.
It’s Just My Way is a re-mixed, re-mastered version of the song that first appeared on my album Mecca. Jorma and I have preformed this song too many times to count all over the world and I just wanted to include it in this collection of songs and friends. I really love Jorma’s buzz saw guitar solo on this one and the sax solo by Dave Castiglione isn’t too shabby either.
While I was a member of Professor Louie and The Crowmatix we recorded one of my tunes Last Train Out which I had written in memory of the late Allen Woody bassist for the Allman Brothers it appeared on their album Flying High, which features Garth Hudson from The Band. This is another re-mixed re-mastered version. When Garth is on board, no matter what instrument he’s playing be it organ, piano, synthesizer, accordion or horns one thing is for sure - it’s going to be interesting and that’s exactly what happened on that day. In fact if you strip away the track and just listen to his parts it's really hard to recognize the tune but as soon as you bring the other tracks up it all makes perfect sense. priceless.
My old friend Kerry Kearney is on board on the CD as well as Kane Daily and Jimmy Fleming. All of them played on my last solo CD, The King James Session. Kerry and I also wrote two of the songs together. Writing with Kerry is a pleasure; it just seems so easy whenever he and I sit down. The acoustic version of We Are All One came about when he and I were in the studio recording one of his CDs called Tripping on the Psychedelta. He had a track that needed lyrics and asked me to come up with some. As I was driving home listening to the rough mix I started singing the lyric to a tune I had written earlier on and it seemed to fit so well that I decided to use it on that track. So, on this CD I’ve included the acoustic version as well as the song as I originally heard in my head with a full electric band, this version featuring Melvin Seals. I love both versions.
This CD could not have been made without the help of all the great players - the ones I’ve mentioned above along with Harvey Sorgen and Pete Sears my old buddies from Hot Tuna, Steve Rust, Jon Marshall Smith, Ray Grappone, Peter Bennett, Miss Marie Spinosa, Mike Dunn, David Malachowski, Gary Burke, Chris Matheos, Charlie Wolfe, Eileen Murphy, Frank Celenza, Vicki Bell, Klyph Black and Tommy Circosta.
To all I say thanks……Michael F.
Review Excerpts
Jambands.com 11/11/2008 By
Michael Falzarano has been holding down the fort for a long time. Over the years he’s been the “Bobby” rhythm guitar figure to the “Jerry” lead played by Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna) and David Nelson (New Riders) -– at least as far as the always-there-with-the-rhythm-no-matter-how-crazy-the-jam-gets role...... Past projects (the Memphis Pilgrims and the solo 2005 King James Sessions) have proven Michael’s talent as a bandleader, but his latest release, We Are All One, is the best yet. And although the album features a revolving cast of characters recorded over a long period, it sounds like the result of a bunch of old friends sitting down one evening and going for it with the tape rolling. The album-opening “Why I Love You I Can’t Explain” explodes with all the joy of a late-'80s vintage Jerry Garcia Band show, and there’s good reason for that: give him room, folks, that’s Melvin Seals hisself on the B-3. Big Melvin makes several appearances on We Are All One, including the title track. In typical Falzarano fashion, there’s no heavy message here, but just an attempt to get the people of the world to realize, as the man says, “We are all one – mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son.” The song gets revisited acoustically later on, featuring some beautiful mandolin by Jimmy Fleming. There was only one Vassar Clements and, luckily, Michael spent some session time with the fiddle master before his passing in 2005. Clements weaves and bobs with Kerry Kearney’s wild-ass guitar on “It’s My Own Fault” and the old Rev. Gary Davis classic “Candy Man”. And Falzarano’s “When There’s Two There’s Trouble” sounds like it was written solely for the purpose of letting the “Father of Hillbilly Jazz” wail. New Riders pal and pedal steel monster Buddy Cage makes several appearances, including the haunting “New Shirt” when the steel takes the lead over a chugging rhythm guitar/bass/drum foundation. “Last Train Out” is to Michael as “Soulshine” is to Warren Haynes-–though we’ve heard it before, it never gets old. This arrangement of Falzarano’s tribute to late Gov't Mule bassist Allen Woody features Professor Louie and The Crowmatrix with the always-amazing Garth Hudson on keyboards.... Even though there’s no one core group of musicians throughout the album, We Are All One is held together by the good Falzarano karma. This is definitely his album, no matter who sits in where -– and, in the end, the man proves his point: given the chance, we are all one.
To read the full review click Reviews
Jambands.com 12/23/2008 By
.......The most recent album is We Are One (Woodstock Records) and it a delightful encapsulation of everything that Falzarano does and simply the best overall project he has released under his own name. Falzarano is helped out on the album by an impressive array of guests including, Jorma Kaukonen, the late Vassar Clements, Melvin Seals, Pete Sears, Kerry Kearney, Professor Louie, Buddy Cage, Garth Hudson, and a slew of other notable players, including the Memphis Pilgrims. The most impressive thing about the disc, which flips from strident bluesy R&B through country blues, country rock and more, with ease and conviction, is that it is a cohesive effort. Clearly Falzarano is the front man, and enjoying it. The production is simple and the playing never over complicated, but it’s a vibrant album, as indicated by the horn driven “It’s Just My Way” (which has Jorma wailing away). Other highlights are the strident opener, “Why I Love You I Can’t Explain,” the gutsier blues rock of “It’s My Own Fault.” The soulful title cut is presented in two versions, an electric and an acoustic version. Both are good, but I prefer the acoustic one. He also reworks classic country blues tracks “How Long Blues” and “Candyman” with really interesting arrangements. The album ends with the appropriately titled instrumental “Gonna Power Down Now,” which boast some great pedal steel from Cage....
To read the full review click Reviews
The full interview
http://www.jambands.com/Features/content_2008_12_23.04.phtml
The Grateful Web 10/8/2008 By Sanjay Suchak
The album is potluck of various genres and musical styles. While this can be a risky proposition for many musicians, Falzarano handles this with precision and grace crafting the entire album as a gradual transition from style to style. It’s a method which I think serves his style of songwriting very well... Picking out highlights of this album was a very hard thing to do, not because there were none, but because the whole album was consistently a very listenable one. We’ve all heard albums where there are only a few decent songs and the rest is filler, this is clearly not the case here. The album is a grower; it’s the type of album that each time you listen to it you hear something new that you’ll love.... I’m going to give Michael Falzarano’s album We Are All One four stars out of five, for being an extremely well produced, well written, and exceptionally performed album.
To read the full review click Reviews
Media Matters 10/20/2008 By Eric Alterman
It's interesting, but for me, the real find in this genre is this record by Michael Falzarano, apparently his third one. It's called "We Are All One," and it's on Woodstock records. Twelve of the 14 tracks are his, and there are some of the last known studio recordings of the late fiddle virtuoso Vassar Clements. Falzarano was in Hot Tuna on and off for 20 years, and recently has been touring with the reconstituted New Riders of the Purple Sage. If you like those two bands, this is going to be hard to resist.
Aquarian Weekly 11/19/2008 By Martin Halo
Also appeared in
The DMW News -The Waster.com 11/02/2008 By Martin Halo
With his twenty plus year stint in Hot Tuna and now touring with the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Michael Falzarano is hardly a stranger to the American music industry. His melodic vocals drive honest songwriting grace. Now with the release of his third solo effort, We Are All One, on Woodstock Records, Falzarano has found a groove buried in the jam side of outlaw country. “Why I Love You I Can’t Explain” kicks things off in a good times barroom atmosphere with Falzarano’s vocals a mix of Elvis Costello and Bill Payne. A little funk pushes “Sweet Marie”, while bluegrass tells the story of the “Candy Man.” A sensual saxophone leads “It’s Just My Way,” which is a number about doing things to the beat of one’s own drum. Another strong track is that of “When There’s Two There’s Trouble,” with Falzarano’s melody lines a pleasure to the listening ear. It has the hospitality of a little country and a little rock n’ roll. We Are All One is packed with the kind of numbers that will lend to memorable live performances. They are loose, they are packed with musical expression, and lend to a hip shake or two.
To read the full review click Reviews
The Purply Grotto 11/06/2008
Here's a MP3 file of an interview I did with The Purply Grotto. If you don't know about the P.G. website you should check it out
Just click the link below
http://www.purplygrotto.com/html/modules.php?name= News&file=article&sid=189&mode=&order=0&thold=0
The Westword Music News 11/07/2008 By Nick Hitchinson
Michael Falzarano, We Are All One (Woodstock Records). Michael Falzarano blends well with others, as evidenced by this release, which finds him collaborating with Melvin Seals, Jorma Kaukonen, the late Vassar Clements and Garth Hudson. Songs like "Why I Love You I Can't Explain" highlight Falzarano's top-shelf songwriting, gritty guitar and Elvis Costello-like croon, while deeper cuts pile up more gravelly soul
Billboard.com 11/09/2008 By William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Rhythm guitarist Michael Falzarano is a member in good standing of the musical communities of Marin County, CA, and Woodstock, NY, which has brought him steady work with some of the better known musicians of those areas, including stints in latter day configurations of Hot Tuna and the New Riders of the Purple Sage. For his solo albums, of which this is the third, he has no trouble getting his friends to sit in. Here, those friends include the late master fiddler Vassar Clements, in some of his final recordings ("It's My Own Fault," "Candy Man," "When There's Two There's Trouble"), Hot Tuna's (and Jefferson Airplane's) Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar on "It's Just My Way"), Jefferson Starship's Pete Sears (piano on "It's Just My Way"), the New Riders' pedal steel player Buddy Cage ("New Shirt," "When There's Two There's Trouble," "To Let the Fire Die," "Gonna Power Down Now"), and the Band's Garth Hudson (keyboards on "Last Train Out"). The guests provide some of the instrumental highlights of the disc, but they are only icing on the cake. For the most part, Falzarano leads ensembles anchored by Harvey Sorgen or Ray Grappone on drums, Steve Rust or Pete Bennett on bass, Melvin Seals or Jon Marshall Smith on organ, and Jimmy Eppard or Kerry Kearney on lead guitar. His leadership consists of his sturdy songwriting and singing in a countryish, bluesy vein that will be familiar to fans of the Band and the groups of which he's been a member........
To read the full review click Reviews
Culture Catch 11/26/08 By Dusty Wright (Best Music of the Fall of 2008)
http://www.culturecatch.com/music/best-recordings-2008-rock-pop-soul
Roots-rock has many disciples that can barely deliver the goods. Not so with this gritty singer-songwriter/founder of The Memphis Pilgrims and rhythm guitarist in Hot Tuna, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, et al. He's joined by friends like Vassar Clements (R.I.P., his last recordings), Melvin Seals, Buddy Cage, Jorma Kaukonen, Gath Hudson, and others on a raucous set of simple, four-on-the-floor, toe-tapping tunes.
Long Island
Blues Society.org
12/1/08 By
Dr. Blues
We Are All One
unites many
disparate currents to form a disk of homey Americana laced roots. Falzarano,
with his time playing in Hot Tuna, knows the ropes when it comes to creating
swingingly upbeat grooves and, likewise, a thing or two about assembling his
cast of characters. Jorma tears it into guitar shreds on “It’s Just My Way.”
Melvin Seals paints with soulful Hammond on 4 cuts and all kinds of San Fran
pals join in the fun from Pete Sears (Starship), Harvey Sorgen (Tuna, NRBQ….)to
Buddy Cage (NRPS), Garth Hudson (The Band) and sadly no longer, Vassar Clements,
who fiddled like a chainsaw on overdrive. The disk opens with throttles wide on
“Why I Love You I Can’t Explain.” Melvin Seals wails on the B-3. “It’s My Own
Fault” revels in the rich beauty of Kerry Kearney’s guitar and Vassar Clements
fiddle (probably one of his last recordings prior to his 2005 death) in a
soulful call and response format. “We Are All One” reminds me of the
Youngbloods hit “Come On”, on which Kane Daily slides heavenly hard. A later
acoustic version features the Kerry band. “New Shirt” is eerie with a
psychedelic Western view thanks in no small part to Buddy Cage’s pedal steel
mayhem. A spritely country boogie fills “When There’s Two There’s Trouble” that
joins Kerry, Prof. Louie, Cage and Clements in a cheerful blaster. Garth Hudson
lends his fingers to a sweet memoriam dedicated to Allen Woody known as “Last
Train Out.” Closing with the instrumental “Gonna Power Down Now”, Michael
Falzarano and Extended Family have gone and shown how the offspring of the Tuna/NRPS/The
Band/SF 60s can keep the spirit alive and continue to make valid, interesting
music that moves you and fills you with a warm glow.
Kindweb.com 12/01/2008 By Jud Conway
http://www.kindweb.com/reviews/review.asp?ID=24435
Consummate rhythm guitarist Michael Falzarano has forged a 30-year music career supporting the likes of Jorma Kaukonen in Hot Tuna, and David Nelson and Buddy Cage in New Riders of the Purple Sage. Somewhere between his busy schedule teaching guitar workshops and producing, recording, and performing with a veritable "who’s who" of jam band royalty, Falzarano has managed to release We Are All One, his third proper solo album, on Woodstock Records.
At the heart of We Are All One is the notion of the "Extended Family." While the new disc mines much of the same familiar terrain explored on the vastly-underrated Last Train Out (2000, Hypnotation Records) and the well-received King James Sessions (2005, Blues Planet Records), it also features a previously unparalleled level of collaborative effort. Having worked as a rhythm guitarist with or for many of the guest artists appearing on We Are All One, Falzarano promotes the solo project as a quasi-group effort, informally crediting the album to "Michael Falzarano and Extended Family.’
To read the full review click Reviews
Honesttune.com 12/02/2008 By Bill Whiting
Michael Falzarano crosses yet another stylistic threshold on the We Are All One. An essential partner and player with Jorma Kaukonen and Hot Tuna, his jazz and blues drenched solo project focuses on his love of rock, gospel and R&B.
Gathering the jam community's best instrumentalists, Falzarano strikes up the rhythm and dances down the proverbial golden road with Vassar Clements, Melvin Seals, Jorma, Garth Hudson and Pete Sears. Falzarano's choice of material is as top notch as his supporting cast and a rollicking "Candy Man" is matched by the stomping opener, "Why I Love You I Can't Explain." "Sweet Marie" and the title track bring the organic Hammond lines of Seals to forefront of the sound mix.
Falzarano's string bending guitar runs and gravelly vocal delivery are essential components to each song's overall presentation, and the end result is one heck of a party soundtrack for the show parking lot or tail gate barbecue session. Produced by Falzarano, We Are All One displays the sharp instincts and chops he has brought to all of his work and points to a fruitful solo career in the making.
Poughkeepsie Journal 12/23/2008 By John W. Barry
....Falzarano has recently released a new CD, "We Are All One," a collection of mostly original tunes.
This album highlights Falzarano's love of rock, blues, cascading guitar lines, dance-floor rhythm and lyrics that tell stories.
Falzarano's lead vocals evoke Graham Parker and Elvis Costello. The collective sound that shapes this CD celebrates early, raw Rolling Stones as well as the contemporary jam band scene, in each of the record's 14 tracks......
To read the full review click Reviews
Poughkeepsie Journal 12/31/2008 By John W. Barry
New Year's Eve is upon us, so it's time for another of those end-of-the-year lists. Read on to see who I think rocked out in 2008 - these are my top 10 albums for the past year.
5. "We Are All One" by Michael Falzarano. A stew of soul and song, rich with rock and rhythm, from a musician who has long celebrated the musical legacy of the Hudson Valley, and blazed his own path.
To read the full review click Reviews
Allaboutjazz.com 1/08/2009 By Doug Collette
Redoubtable sideman to Bay Area notables including Hot Tuna and The New Riders of the Purple Sage, guitarist Michael Falzarano offers inspiration throughout his third CD that consolidates the talents that have proven so reliable over the years......
To read the full review click Reviews
Glide Magazine / Hidden track 1/18/2009 By Scott Bernstein
When current New Riders of the Purple Sage and former Hot Tuna guitarist Michael Falzarano put together his latest solo album, We Are All One, he enlisted the help of many of the great musicians that have become part of his extended family including the late Vassar Clements, Buddy Cage of the New Riders, JGB’s Melvin Seals and Kerry Kearney. The resulting album takes you on a cohesive journey through many genres with Michael guiding us through all the wonderful styles of music that he’s played over the years. We Are All One immediately caught my ear with the rollocking Why I Love You I Can’t Explain and didn’t let go through Gonna Power Down Now - the gorgeous lo-fi instrumental that closes the record. Other highlights include a song written as a tribute to Allen Woody (Last Train Out), two covers (Candy Man and How Long Blues) and some of the last known studio recordings of Vassar Clements (When There’s Two There’s Trouble).....
http://www.glidemagazine.com/hiddentrack/interview-michael-falzarano
Dirty Linen # 140 ~ MARCH/APRIL 2009 By Michael Parish
Michael Falzarano We Are All One [Woodstock CD 0026 (2008)] Guitarist/vocalist Michael Falzarano has been a mainstay of the jam-band music world since he joined Hot Tuna in the 1980s. Falzarano’s latest solo album, We Are All One, features a who’s who of musicians from that world, including Jorma Kaukonen, Buddy Cage (with whom Falzarano currently tours in the New Riders of the Purple Sage), Garth Hudson, the late Vassar Clements, and JGB organist Melvin Seals. The disc’s funky blues-rock vibe complements Falzarano’s amiably gruff vocals, producing a blend closer to Little Feat than Tuna or NRPS. With the exception of a couple blues standards, Falzarano wrote or co-wrote most of the material, including strong efforts like the anthemic title song (presented in both acoustic and electric versions) and the playful blues “It’s My Own Fault.” Falzarano has played supporting roles during much of his musical career, but We Are All One is a confident, enjoyable effort that demonstrates that he can easily hold his own in the spotlight.
To read the full review click Reviews
Elmore Magazine January / February 2009 By Robin Murray
We Are All One starts out with a powerhouse song about bad love, “Why I Love You I Can’t Explain.” A mellow, bluesy love song, “How Long Blues,” will have you holding your partner ever so close. When I first listened to this album, I didn’t flip from song to song - the whole thing is dynamite. There are no filler songs included here. This CD is a must for your collection....
To read the full review click Reviews
Music Box 3/09/2009 By John Metzger
Michael Falzarano has such an affable, laid-back personality that in the span of a 30-minute conversation, it immediately is apparent how he so effortlessly is able to fit into the framework of any band. For two decades, Falzarano served as the secret ingredient in Hot Tuna’s blues-baked sandwich, and lately, he has been biding his time by exploring the country-rock repertoire of New Riders of the Purple Sage. Although both acts draw from a similar slate of influences, the end results are quite different. Falzarano’s goal, however, is, as he put it, to "stay true to the legacy, the history, and the sound" of those with whom he is working. Not surprisingly, all of Falzarano’s diversions have left him with very little time to pursue a solo career, though based on the strength of his terrific, new album We Are All One, he might have to find a way to fit it into his hectic schedule.....
To read the full review click below
http://www.musicbox-online.com/interview/03092009/michael-falzarano.html
Check out the Allman Brothers 40th anniversary issues of Relix (April/ May) and issue # 60 of Hittin' The Note
for feature articles about We Are All One
Kweevak.com 5/02/2009 By Richard J. Lynch
MICHAEL FALZARANO – WE ARE ALL ONE: New Riders of the Purple Sage singer and guitarist Michael Falzarano returns with We Are All One - complete with symbols from the world's largest religions on the cover - and while the title might be a plea for spiritual tolerance - the music contained within might help Michael expand his own block of followers! Helped out by many of his long-time friends like Buddy Cage, Jorma Kaukonen, Garth Hudson and many more - its musical revelation will put you on the path to enlightenment - or at least it should help brighten your day. This 14-track effort is Michael's take on the study of New Orleans inspired blues, jazz, rock and Americana roots. It's My Own Fault flies with inspirational fiddle riffs from Vassar Clements. The title track is a call for oneness with jubilant B3 from Melvin Seals and slide guitar from Kane Daily. New Shirt - featuring cleansing pedal steel from Buddy Cage - is a fresh take on dirty business. On his new CD Michael's unifying musical message is so fulfilling that it leaves us asking - "Where's We Are All One, Two???
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange 6/23/09 By Bob Gottlieb
Michael Falzarano, for the past 4 or so years guitar player and singer for The New Riders Of The Purple Sage and before that an extended stay with Hot Tuna, as well as his own band has put together a disc in his own name with some great players. This is Falzarano’s third solo disc and he has Vassar Clements on this disc in some of the last sessions he did before he passed on, Buddy Cage, Jorma Kaukonen, Garth Hudson and Professor Louie among others helping to flesh out his aural vision on this disc. On this 14-song disc Michael wrote 10 of the songs, co-wrote with Kerry Kearny two of them and the two remaining tracks are, one by the Reverend Gary Davis, and one by Leroy Carr. His songs are well written and he arranges them on the disc so that the listener doesn’t fall into a rut nor get jarred by the bump moving to the next song. The music goes from blues to Rock to Country to… however as stated the transitions are smooth and easy without being dull. To get an idea listen to the treatment he gives to Reverend Gary Davis’ “Candy Man” with Vassar Clements fiddle, just a superb version of the song. Give a listen to the beautiful and touching tribute to Allen Woody, bass player for the Allman Brothers and Gov’t Mule, “Last Train Out”. The haunting and beautiful play of Buddy Cage and Jimmy Eppard on the instrumental “Gonna Power Down Now” ends the disc on a powerful note. The keyboards play a prominent, without being overpowering, role in his music and quick look at who is playing them is quite revealing; Melvin Seals on Hammond Organ, Professor Louie on piano, Garth Hudson on keyboards, Pete Sears on piano, and Jon Marshall Smith on Farfisa Organ. This is one of those discs that just seem to pick you up and put a smile on your feet as they glide around the floor keeping time with the bounce in the music.
Interviews about the CD
http://www.glidemagazine.com/hiddentrack/interview-michael-falzarano
http://www.kindweb.com/news/article.asp?ID=7655
The Who Did What
Why I Love You I Can’t Explain
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Melvin Seals - Hammond Organ
Jimmy Eppard – Lead Guitar and Backup Vocals
Professor Louie – Piano
Steve Rust – Bass
Harvey Sorgen – Drums
Klyph Black and Tom Circosta – Backup Vocals
Sweet Marie
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Melvin Seals - Hammond Organ
Jimmy Eppard – Lead Guitar and Backup Vocals
Professor Louie – Piano
Steve Rust – Bass
Harvey Sorgen – Drums
Klyph Black and Tom Circosta – Backup Vocals
It’s My Own Fault
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Vassar Clements – Fiddle
Kerry Kearney – Lead Guitar
Peter Bennett – Bass
Ray Grappone – Drums
Klyph Black, Tom Circosta and Jimmy Eppard – Backup Vocals
Candy Man
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Vassar Clements – Fiddle
Kerry Kearney – Lead Guitar
Peter Bennett – Bass
Ray Grappone – Drums
Jimmy Eppard – Backup Vocals
We Are All One
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Melvin Seals - Hammond Organ
Kane Daily – Slide Guitar
Chris Matheos – Bass
Ray Grappone – Drums
Klyph Black and Tom Circosta – Backup Vocals
It’s Just My Way
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Jorma Kaukonen – Lead Guitar
Jimmy Eppard – Guitar and Backup Vocals
Pete Sears – Piano
Steve Rust – Bass
Harvey Sorgen – Drums
Dave Castiglione – Saxophone
How Long Blues
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Melvin Seals - Hammond Organ
Jimmy Eppard – Lead Guitar and Backup Vocals
Professor Louie – Piano
Steve Rust – Bass
Harvey Sorgen – Drums
New Shirt
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Buddy Cage - Pedal Steel
Kylph Black – Bass
Ray Grappone – Drums
When There’s Two There’s Trouble
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Vassar Clements – Fiddle
Buddy Cage - Pedal Steel
Kerry Kearney – Lead Guitar
Jon Marshall Smith – Farfisa Organ
Peter Bennett – Bass
Ray Grappone – Drums
Professor Louie and Miss Marie – Backup Vocals
Crazy Days
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Jon Marshall Smith – Farfisa Organ
Jimmy Eppard – Lead Guitar and Backup Vocals
Professor Louie – Piano
Steve Rust – Bass
Harvey Sorgen – Drums
To Let The Fire Die
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Buddy Cage - Pedal Steel
Jimmy Fleming – Mandolin
Kerry Kearney – Guitar
Charlie Wolfe – Harmonica
Frank Celenza - Bass
Eileen Murphy - Drums
We Are All One (Acoustic)
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Jimmy Fleming – Mandolin
Kerry Kearney – Guitar and Backup Vocals
Charlie Wolfe – Harmonica
Frank Celenza - Bass
Eileen Murphy – Drums
Vicki Bell – Backup Vocals
Last Train Out
Michael Falzarano – Lead Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Garth Hudson – Keyboards
Professor Louie – Accordion
David Malachowski - Guitar
Mike Dunn – Bass
Gary Burke – Drums
Gonna Power Down Now
Michael Falzarano - Guitar
Buddy Cage – Pedal Steel
Jimmy Eppard –Guitar
Professor Louie – Fender Rhodes
Steve Rust – Bass
Harvey Sorgen – Drums
All songs written by Michael Falzarano
Except tracks 4 (Reverend Gary Davis), 7 (Leroy Carr),
11 and 12 (Falzarano / Kearney)
All songs Lawdy Miss Clawdy Publishing (BMI)
Except tracks 4, 7, 11 and 12
Tracks 1, 2, 7, 10 and 13 recorded by Professor Louie at LRS Recording
Tracks 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11 and 12 recorded by Vicki Bell at Hipbone Studios
Track 6 recorded by Dave Cook at Dreamland Studios
and Track 14 recorded by Mike Birnbaum at Applehead Studios
Mixed by Michael Falzarano and Jon Marshall Smith
Produced by Michael Falzarano
1275 Hurly Mt. Rd.
Hurly, NY 12443