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| "FUN" The upcoming release from star LA session guitarist Andrew Synowiec STAR L.A. SESSION GUITARIST ANDREW SYNOWIEC MAKES BOLD, COMPELLING STATEMENT AS A SOLO ARTIST ON THE HIGHLY MELODIC, INFECTIOUSLY FOCUSED FUN Andrew Synowiec – Guitar, Compositions Gary Novak (Chick Corea, Alanis Morissette) – Drums Jorgen Carlsson (Gov't Mule) – Bass Cary Frank (Tedeschi/Trucks, Social Distortion) – Organ Pete Korpela (Josh Groban) – Percussion Recorded by Jim Scott (Foo Fighters, Wilco, Tedeschi/Trucks, Joe Satriani) Album Release Date: September 8, 2023 (House of Syn Records) "I really like the sound of this record. Has an analog feel and total group dynamic. Your tone is off the hook beautiful and the guitar is presented on a silver platter. I also love the daring nature of your melodies and solos. Amazing technique, feel, tone, note choice and phrasing. This is such an impressive sounding and performed record. Feels like you and the boys were actually having a lot of fun with it." -Guitarist Steve Vai "Fresh from a momentous tour with supergroup SRT, guitarist Andrew Synowiec takes the next step in his journey as a solo artist with the smoking, perfectly titled new album FUN. A follow-up to his 2016 acoustic ambient EP Swim in the Sea and his rollicking 2019 full-band album Second Story, FUN is an all-original set that puts the spotlight on a guitarist with endless versatility, bracing chops and refined musical instincts. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2004, Synowiec has become one of the the industry's top session guitarists. His high-profile soundtrack work includes Frozen, The Walking Dead, Cobra Kai and more. He has also played for Robbie Robertson, Alanis Morissette, The Who, Meghan Trainor, Seal, Barbra Streisand and countless others. While he wouldn't trade this incredible experience, Synowiec has always felt the need to assert his own musical personality and pursue a solo career, much like his heroes and role models Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather and Michael Landau, to name a few. Finding one's own musical voice is a process, and Synowiec has done the work. "I grew up in the era of flashy pyrotechnic guitar playing, " he recalls. "I loved Steve Morse and Eric Johnson and Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Then I went down the dark jazz highway, and I fell in love with that music. I was trying to find something that would be authentic to who I am. I'm someone who loves Wes Montgomery as much as I love Dimebag Darrell from Pantera. I can't really tell you which one I'm taking on the desert island. In the end, I'm a composer who writes songs and deals with harmony and improvisation. It's not all flash. It's coming from the jazz world where there's communication happening within the band. But I want the average person on the street to get it and like it and not need a music degree to enjoy it." Synowiec can morph from screaming leads to crisp funk rhythm parts to pure melodic tones and textures with the flick of a wrist. His soloing is blues- and rock-drenched, raw and expressive, complex in its lines and language. But what makes FUN work so well is the infectious melodies and riffs. "I spent a long time on the nuts and bolts of the songs, " Synowiec says. "I try to keep in mind what one of my colleagues calls the 'campfire test': Does your song work if someone hands you an acoustic guitar at a campfire? That was the goal — everything has to pass the campfire test." Come around the campfire and join the FUN with Andrew Synowiec, veteran drummer Gary Novak (Chick Corea, Alanis Morissette), bassist Jorgen Carlsson (Government Mule), Hammond organist Cary Frank (Tedeschi/Trucks, Social Distortion) and percussionist Pete Korpela (Josh Groban). About Andrew Synowiec: Nearly 20 years ago, Andrew Synowiec ('sin-o-wik) drove 2700 miles west to Los Angeles with nothing but a few demo CDs, a couple guitars and one phone number for a possible lead on studio work. Today, with his collection of nearly 100 stringed instruments, Andrew has become Hollywood's go-to guitarist, contributing to countless Oscar, Emmy and Grammy-winning projects. As a solo artist, his first full-length release Second Story received wide-ranging airplay and praise from notable fans such as Steve Vai and Jay Graydon. Andrew's new album FUN was recorded by long-time Rick Rubin collaborator Jim Scott (Foo Fighters, Tedeschi Trucks, Tom Petty, Wilco, Joe Satriani) and features Gary Novak (Chick Corea / Alanis Morissette), Jorgen Carlsson (Government Mule), Carey Frank (Tedeschi Trucks), and Pete Korpela (Josh Groban). The album debuts on September 8th and will be followed by a West Coast tour in November. A multi-faceted guitarist, Andrew has recorded for or performed with artists ranging from music industry icons The Who and Alanis Morissette to contemporary trailblazers like Meghan Trainor and M83. Other recent collaboration credits include Robbie Robertson, Nick Jonas, Ariana Grande, Michael Bublé, Elton John, Seal, 98 Degrees, Josh Groban, Jon Secada, Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer, Bette Midler, Carole King, Stephen Bishop, Jason Robert Brown, Herb Alpert, and Eva Cassidy. While living in Miami and attending the prestigious University of Miami school of music, Andrew also recorded for some of the most important latin artists of the day such as Chayanne, Thalia and Estefano. A highlight was working on three consecutive albums for Marc Anthony including the multi-Platinum, Grammy-winning, #1 album Amar Sin Mentiras. In the film and television worlds, Andrew can routinely be found on Hollywood scoring stages or in his private recording studio lending his hands to critically acclaimed and blockbuster projects. His work can be heard on iconic films including Pixar's Coco and Inside Out, Warner Bros' Batman, 20th Century's The Greatest Showman, Sony's Spider-Man, and Paramount's Mission Impossible franchise as well as fan-favorite series including Fox's The Simpsons, AMC's The Walking and Netflix's Cobra Kai. His performances also helped strengthen the score and songs in Disney's Encanto and Frozen, where he can most notably be heard on the smash hit song "Let It Go." Andrew has been a member of the Grammy house band for the past two years. A dynamic instrumental artist and performer, Andrew is lauded for lighting up his fretboard in the styles of Jeff Beck and Larry Carlton, fused with modern sensibilities. He routinely brings his all-star band to sold-out crowds at the world famous Baked Potato club in Los Angeles. As a member of the supergroup "SRT" (Synowiec/Robinson/Towne), Andrew recently played to packed audiences at Japan's Billboard LIVE and enjoyed an incredible five night run at Birdland in New York City. When not playing guitar, Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife and volunteering with Guide Dogs of America. write your comments about the article :: © 2023 Jazz News :: home page |