Doug Wamble
News
June 7th you will find me at the 55 Bar with my trusty foursome of Adrian Harpham, Roy Dunlap and Jeff Hanley. I'm also working on a few film projects, some new recordings, and lots more to make 2015 a very interesting year! Stay tuned...
Pre-oder here and get "Call My Name" immediately...https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hunter/id930547475
“A one-man compendium of avant Americana.” – The New Yorker
As a child of Memphis, TN, Doug Wamble has always been surrounded by a vast musical and cultural landscape. From listening to his mother play piano in their Baptist church to his grandfather singing cowboy songs, murder ballads and old time gospel favorites while strumming his guitar, Doug has been immersed in music for his entire life.
After completing two music degrees, Doug decided to head to New York to seek a career as a guitarist and composer. Appearing on bandstands and recordings with such artists as Wynton Marsalis, Norah Jones, Steven Bernstein, Courtney Love, Madeleine Peyroux, and Cassandra Wilson, Doug was making a name for himself in the jazz world and beyond when he was signed to Branford Marsalis’ label, Marsalis Music/Rounder Records. Doug released two critically acclaimed records Country Libations and Bluestate, and decided a change was in order.
Focusing on being a singer/songwriter was never something Wamble had considered, but upon delving into this new direction, he found that something resonated with him. “I had self-identified as a jazz musician for so long that it was strange at first to put that aesthetic aside and refocus my energies into the craft of songwriting. And I also had been developing the skills needed to get into pop production as well as film-scoring. So I was able to pivot and find new avenues to keep me feeling that spark I felt when I first got into jazz.”
In 2009, Doug released his self-titled album on Koch/E1 records, and followed up in 2013 with another singer/songwriter album on his own Halcyonic Records imprint entitled Fast as Years, Slow as Days which was funded by a wildly successful PledgeMusic drive. “I never thought I was a good candidate for crowd funding, but I was humbled by the amount of people out there who wanted to help get the record made,” Wamble says. And in 2014 came Doug’s first all-instrumental recording, Rednecktelectual, which features his original compositions all performed on a single guitar, using non-traditional recording techniques and treating the resophonic guitar like a bass, a drum and a piano all at once. Two albums are completed and awaiting release in 2014 and 2015 in the form of an all-acoustic vocal and guitar record of new songs called For Anew, as well as an acoustic jazz record called The Traveler, which is a song cycle commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Building on his history with Wynton Marsalis, which led to guitar contributions to several Ken Burns documentaries for PBS such as Prohibition and Unforgivable Blackness, Doug began working as a composer for Burns’ Florentine Films, collaborating with Ken, his daughter Sarah, and David McMahon for the tragic film The Central Park Five. Wamble is currently at work on upcoming Florentine productions on Vietnam and Jackie Robinson.
Producing is another job Doug relishes, and it can be heard and felt by listening to the debut recording by Epic recording artist Morgan James on her album, Hunter. Doug co-wrote many of the songs, which feature an exciting mix of modern pop and classic soul, bound by Morgan James’ stunning vocals. “I never thought I’d produce a major label pop record, but I love the process, from writing that first note to listening on mastering day. It’s such a joy to make a real record from start to finish.”
The future holds a full plate with a full spectrum of projects for Doug this year. A new duo project with acclaimed percussionist Mino Cinelu, performances at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, in Europe with New Orleans piano master Henry Butler, and all over the globe with Morgan James to promote Hunter.
As a child of Memphis, TN, Doug Wamble has always been surrounded by a vast musical and cultural landscape. From listening to his mother play piano in their Baptist church to his grandfather singing cowboy songs, murder ballads and old time gospel favorites while strumming his guitar, Doug has been immersed in music for his entire life.
After completing two music degrees, Doug decided to head to New York to seek a career as a guitarist and composer. Appearing on bandstands and recordings with such artists as Wynton Marsalis, Norah Jones, Steven Bernstein, Courtney Love, Madeleine Peyroux, and Cassandra Wilson, Doug was making a name for himself in the jazz world and beyond when he was signed to Branford Marsalis’ label, Marsalis Music/Rounder Records. Doug released two critically acclaimed records Country Libations and Bluestate, and decided a change was in order.
Focusing on being a singer/songwriter was never something Wamble had considered, but upon delving into this new direction, he found that something resonated with him. “I had self-identified as a jazz musician for so long that it was strange at first to put that aesthetic aside and refocus my energies into the craft of songwriting. And I also had been developing the skills needed to get into pop production as well as film-scoring. So I was able to pivot and find new avenues to keep me feeling that spark I felt when I first got into jazz.”
In 2009, Doug released his self-titled album on Koch/E1 records, and followed up in 2013 with another singer/songwriter album on his own Halcyonic Records imprint entitled Fast as Years, Slow as Days which was funded by a wildly successful PledgeMusic drive. “I never thought I was a good candidate for crowd funding, but I was humbled by the amount of people out there who wanted to help get the record made,” Wamble says. And in 2014 came Doug’s first all-instrumental recording, Rednecktelectual, which features his original compositions all performed on a single guitar, using non-traditional recording techniques and treating the resophonic guitar like a bass, a drum and a piano all at once. Two albums are completed and awaiting release in 2014 and 2015 in the form of an all-acoustic vocal and guitar record of new songs called For Anew, as well as an acoustic jazz record called The Traveler, which is a song cycle commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Building on his history with Wynton Marsalis, which led to guitar contributions to several Ken Burns documentaries for PBS such as Prohibition and Unforgivable Blackness, Doug began working as a composer for Burns’ Florentine Films, collaborating with Ken, his daughter Sarah, and David McMahon for the tragic film The Central Park Five. Wamble is currently at work on upcoming Florentine productions on Vietnam and Jackie Robinson.
Producing is another job Doug relishes, and it can be heard and felt by listening to the debut recording by Epic recording artist Morgan James on her album, Hunter. Doug co-wrote many of the songs, which feature an exciting mix of modern pop and classic soul, bound by Morgan James’ stunning vocals. “I never thought I’d produce a major label pop record, but I love the process, from writing that first note to listening on mastering day. It’s such a joy to make a real record from start to finish.”
The future holds a full plate with a full spectrum of projects for Doug this year. A new duo project with acclaimed percussionist Mino Cinelu, performances at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, in Europe with New Orleans piano master Henry Butler, and all over the globe with Morgan James to promote Hunter.
DOUG WAMBLE
PRODUCER
SELECTED SIDEMAN WORK
WITH ERIK FRIEDLANDER'S BONEBRIDGE
Wamble's new recording proclaims that he is for real. The music is fueled with a touch of soul and spirituality...Mark F. Turner AllAboutJazz.com SHARE
For a jazz guitarist, Doug Wamble is one hell of a soul man -- not just his playing, but his writing, and especially his voice, which lies somewhere between Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. His background is evident in some of the chords he uses, but he hides it well, and the songs come across as lovely soul, as on the delicious "Sweet Return to Madness" and "It May Be a Dream," where the violin and voice of Carrie Rodriguez add some lovely delicacy to the proceedings. Wamble's guitar work takes a back seat for some of the disc, although he takes off on slide on the gospel-flavored "Bitter Angels" and works with Charlie Hunter on the opener, "Think About It All," while the slow build of "Oh Heaven," with its piano backdrop, offers a superb frame for his restrained solo. But this is an album that's about the song, not playing technique, and Wamble shows himself to be a songwriter of true talent. After all that soul, the jazz of "I Needn't Try," although definitely displaying Wamble's roots, stands out like a sore thumb. It all closes with a cover of Fiona Apple's "I Know" that returns Wamble to acoustic guitar, his natural instrument, giving a spare, aching version of the song. It's a soft, ideal closer to a lovingly crafted disc.Chris Nickson All Music Guide SHARE
...Country Libations is, so far, the debut recording of the year. Thoroughly integrating rural blues, gospel, swing, and free jazz into an organic musical conception that owes little to any model, this acoustic guitarist, singer, and composer is a one-man compendium of avant Americana.The New Yorker SHARE
...music that is as fascinating as it is idiosyncratic...Country Libations is an impressive introduction to a guitarists-singer-composer with a bright future.Don Heckman Los Angeles Times SHARE
...Mr. Wamble, the guitarist who has been heard with Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson and Steven Bernstein's Millenial Territory Orchestra, blends bebop, country, blues, gospel, soul and his own blue-eyed soul singing.The New York Times SHARE
...it's definitely good. Wamble, a young guitarist and singer, takes us on a soulful foray into the roots music from the Deep South.The Boston Globe SHARE
The constants throughout the disc are Wamble's razor-sharp yet honey-sweet baritone; the bluesy tone of his vintage hollow-body Gretsch guitar, recorded without a pickup; the tuneful quality of his original compositions; and the easygoing cohesion of a working ensemble.JazzTimes SHARE
...jazz, blues and gospel are equally important parts of what acoustic guitarist/singer Doug Wamble does on this promising debut album...he makes everything fit together on this unpredictable yet focused debut.AllMusicGuide SHARE
Merging blues, jazz and gospel with unimagined ease, Wamble has devised a unique style all the more impressive for its distinctive personal nature. These days, in particular, a rare, inclusive talent like this comes as nothing less than a gift.Steve Futterman Barnes and Noble SHARE
One of the unique aspects of (Doug) Wamble's style is that he plays strictly acoustic. In a post-Frisell/post-Scofield age in which young guitarists tend to load up on digital devices and all manner of foot pedals, that is rare indeed.
Bill MilkowskiJazzTimes SHARE
Bill Milkowski
Wamble's Tennessee Baptist infused tenor voice is as big as his guitar sound, and his band helped him create one of the most distinctive current conceptions in jazz.Jon Garelick Boston Phoenix SHARE
Wamble is a quadruple threat: accomplished singer-songwriter, eclectic composer, killer guitarist, and heady improviser. His second album, Bluestate, illuminates the broad well of influence from which he draws.Steve Futterman Barnes & Noble SHARE
Wamble seems ever intent on forging new ground while always retaining certain valuable aspects of jazz tradition.Matt Collar AllMusic.com SHARE
Wamble's new recording proclaims that he is for real. The music is fueled with a touch of soul and spirituality...Mark F. Turner AllAboutJazz.com SHARE
Bluestate is one of those breakout albums that brings startlingly to attention a musician who has developed a distinctive sound of his own, one that flows naturally from his personality and who he is. Bluestate is one of the unexpectedly enjoyable releases yet this year.Don Williamson Jazzreview.com SHARE