Brett Garsed

Brett Garsed - Big Sky - 2002 - Paranormal Records

Brett Garsed is probably best known to the masses (though not necessarily by name) for his exquisite guitar work on Nelson records and for his long-standing relationship with Australian pop star John Farnham, with whom he has recorded and toured for many years. To instrumental fusion fans, however, Brett is known as a superb player with a highly individual style and several extraordinary albums under his belt, most notably his first two records with multi-finger-tapper T. J. Helmerich (Quid Pro Quo and Exempt). This album, his first as a solo artist, showcases the evolution of his playing in recent years; his legato phrasing is still jaw-dropping, but his tone is both more biting and less distorted than on his other more fusion-oriented albums, no doubt because of his use of a warm-sounding Telecaster-style guitar. Brett is remarkably accompanied by the extremely versatile and inventive Ric Fierabracci on bass and Zappa/Keneally/Workman acolyte Toss Panos on drums, who lay down muscular yet subtle and swinging rhythm tracks. The songs on this record are more rock and blues oriented than Brett's jazzier work, with more songlike structures than traditional fusion, highly hummable and memorable melodies, slide guitar, and ever-tasteful solo breaks. This is still fairly complex music, however, with odd time signatures and mind-boggling playing from everyone involved. But what makes this album truly stand out is not so much the players' virtuosity as their sense of restraint, expressiveness and taste; there no unnecessary flash, and every note and drum beat feels perfectly appropriate. Garsed's solo playing is as inspiring and stunning as ever, with his characteristic knack for starting long legato runs and always concluding them as complete melodic statements, rather than the often meandering solo excursions heard on so many instrumental albums. This is a highly, highly recommended album that should appeal to instrumental music fans of all stripes. Review by & © Rog The Frog Billerey-Mosier Review date: 05/2003 © 1997-present John Chedsey | All Rights Reserved http://www.ssmt-reviews.com/artist/garsed.html

Legendary Australian guitarist Brett Garsed serves up a big helping of solo delights on "Big Sky," his latest musical offering. On a large canvas fitting for a grand Monet, Garsed once again paints a musical landscape using large and brilliant brushstrokes highlighted by subtle colors and fine detail. Fittingly titled "Big Sky," the new album satisfies as it delivers extraordinary playing from the trio of Garsed, Ric Fierabracci (bass) and Toss Panos (drums). The trio’s versatility is aptly demonstrated across the CD’s ten tracks of melody-infused instrumental rock music. Rich textures are combined with bursts of sound and other-worldly playing, lending credence to the album’s title. Over an hour’s worth of enjoyment is provided; every track provides a new element or dimension to the music. Garsed has a real talent and this album reveals the ‘substance’ in his playing. His style and technique are varied, but unmistakably Brett. He lets it rip on "Fu’d Fight" and "The Myth" while "Got The Horn" features some truly inspired playing by all three (check out the bass!). A few subtle moments are also included, rounding out a creative and remarkable recording. This album is not one to be passed over. © EDITORIAL REVIEW © 1996-2013, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DK31Z

Brett Garsed is a great Australian guitarist. He is capable of shredding your brain with his fantastic guitar technique. However, on “Big Sky” Brett does not engage in unnecessary guitar pyrotechnics. There is no overkill here. Brett’s legato laced guitar solos are extraordinary and tasteful. His acoustic and electric guitar work is complemented perfectly by some great bass and drumming. There are some great melodies throughout this fusion tinged instrumental blues/rock album which is totally absorbing and HR by A.O.O.F.C. Listen to The Mark Varney Project’s “Centrifugal Funk” album where Brett unleashes some insane but brilliant guitar licks. Read an interview with Brett @ http://www.alloutguitar.com/interviews/brett-garsed-interview-liquid-virtuosity [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 134 Mb]

TRACKS

1. Undoing 4:57
2. Trinity 7:26
3. Brothers 5:40
4. Drowning 8:08
5. Fu'd Fight 5:14
6. Breathe 5:05
7. Got The Horn 5:55
8. The Myth 4:41
9. Friend Or Foe 5:33
10. Big Sky 8:43

All music composed by Brett Garsed except Track 2 by Brett Garsed & John Glance

MUSICIANS

Brett Garsed – Guitar
Ric Fierabracci – Bass
Anastasios Panos – Drums

BIO

Brett Edward Garsed (born April 20, 1963) is an Australian musician, best known for his work as a guitarist with John Farnham and T. J. Helmerich, as well as being a former member of the American band Nelson. Garsed was featured on Derek Sherinian's solo records Planet X (1999) and Planet X's Quantum (2007), and more recently Sherinian's Molecular Heinosity (2010). Garsed was born in rural Victoria, Australia and began playing guitar at age 12 after hearing Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore play "Speed King". After about a month of initial lessons, he continued to teach himself and formed a band composed of his two cousins and a mutual friend and began playing live. In July 1985, Brett was featured in Guitar Player magazine’s “Spotlight” column, which was devoted to exposing new talent to the rest of the world. This encouraged Brett to give up his job as a licensed plumber and pursue a career as a professional musician, prompting him to send demo tapes to as many record companies and management companies as he could find. “I wasn’t looking for a record deal. I just wanted to get into a good band.” One of the tapes was heard by Ross Fraser of the Wheatley Organization, which led to an audition for a short tour by Australian superstar John Farnham. Farnham, at this time still a member of the Little River Band, was planning a solo album and invited him to be a part of the project. The resulting album, Whispering Jack, went on to become the biggest selling album in Australian history, followed by sellout tours of Australia and Europe. Garsed continued to tour and record with Farnham until early 1989, when he was invited to the US to audition for Nelson, a band led by Gunnar and Matthew, sons of the late Ricky Nelson. The audition was a success and the resulting album, After the Rain, went on to sell in excess of three million copies and yielded a national No. 1 ('Love and Affection') as well as two Top Ten follow-up singles. In early 1990 Brett also recorded Centrifugal Funk for Mike Varney's label Legato Records, an intense guitar album featuring Frank Gambale and Shawn Lane. For most of 1991 Garsed toured the US with Nelson, and spent ‘92 recording Quid Pro Quo with Chicago-born guitarist T J Helmerich after the duo decided to sign to Varney’s label. With Nelson on a seemingly permanent hiatus, Brett and TJ pursued their career promoting Quid Pro Quo, which featured Bobby Rock on drums, Gary Willis on bass and Paul Mirkovich on keys. Greeted with critical acclaim worldwide, the pair recorded the follow-up album Exempt in 1993. In 1996 Bobby Rock released Out Of Body, a progressive rock album featuring Brett on guitar. In 1994 Garsed also filmed an instructional video for REH/Warner titled Rock Fusion which covers, in detail, his unique approach to guitar improvisation. Garsed’s most recent recording projects include the Uncle Moe’s Space Ranch album featuring TJ Helmerich, Gary Willis, Dennis Chambers and Scott Kinsey, the Tapestry album which was released under the band name Mojo and features Ric Fierabracci on bass and Kofi Baker, son of Ginger Baker on drums, and more recently his debut solo album Big Sky with Fierabracci returning for bass and production duties and Toss Panos behind the drums. Brett returned to Australia after 14 years in Los Angeles and completed the seven-month-long “Last Time” tour with John Farnham. His first solo album, Big Sky, was released in 2002. After nearly a decade, he followed this up with Dark Matter in 2011. In 2004, Rock Guitar Improvisation, his second instructional DVD was released covering many aspects of his technique. This DVD also included some live footage. In 2011, Brett is currently taking part in the John Farnham "Whispering Jack - 25th Anniversary" tour around Australia, revisiting the parts he created on Australia's highest selling locally made album. Garsed also released his solo album Dark Matter in 2011. Garsed is mainly an improviser guitarist, renowned for his legato and hybrid picking technique, a combination that provides him with an extremely fluid sound to his playing. He has also mastered a distinctive slide guitar sound, specially noticeable in his latest releases. Rather than relying on scale patterns and figures, he's stated to play with a relative pitch approach, that allows him to play the melodies in his mind. A fundamental component of his music is the use of wide intervals and chromatic passing tones. His early influences were Ritchie Blackmore, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour and Jimi Hendrix. This later expanded to more diverse styles such as Leo Kottke, Allan Holdsworth, Rory Gallagher, Scott Henderson, and Edward Van Halen.