Gil Parris
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| Gil Parris | |
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| Genre(s) | Jazz Blues Rock Funk |
| Affiliation(s) | Blood,_Sweat_&_Tears |
| Notable guitars | Fender Stratocaster, Carvin SH-225 |
| Influences | Larry Carlton, Mike Brecker, George Benson |
| Official site | www.GilParris.com |
Gil Parris is an American jazz, blues-rock and light funk guitarist.
Parris has released five solo albums and played collaboratively with over 20 other groups/artists. His unique style of play has earned him critical acclaim by jazz critics and guitar magazines across several music genres.
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[edit] Biography
Gil Parris attended the Berklee School of Music on a Jazz Masters scholarship; he was discovered in 1990 by Mike Varney and featured in Guitar Player's "Spotlight" column. Since, he has gone on to play on over two-dozen national records and countless others with players like David Sanborn, Bob James, Will Lee, Eric Alexander and Bob Malach.
Some of the highlights in his side-man discography are: "Syndicate of Soul" (on Shanachie Records with Dr. John, Wilbur Bascomb, and Corey Glover), "Bluesiana Hurricane" (with Chuck Rainey, Bill Doggett and Lester Bowie), "Skallelujah" (with the Uptown Horns), Toko Furuuchi's "Strength" (for SONY/Japan with an all-star cast of New York studio players), and Bakhiti Kumalo's solo CD (Paul Simon's bassist).
Parris' playing is influenced by sax, pedal steel and piano players, which gives him a fresh, unique style. His creative solo arrangement of "Pop Goes the Weasel," featured in the compilation, "Public Domain" garnered him a Grammy nomination in 2001 for Best Folk CD.
Parris is one of very few artists that have nationally released albums in over four different genres: R&B, smooth jazz, traditional jazz and blues. He has solo albums on RCA/BMG, Okra-Tone/Koch, and his own "Jam This" release.
Parris’ first artist-driven Hot Licks video, "Modern Blues Guitar" has been a bestseller for over three years, and he is part of their national video, "Masters of the Stratocaster." In addition, Gil was the lead guitarist for the seminal jazz/rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears, playing to thousands, and appears extensively on their Christmas album (2003). He appeared on NBC's The Today Show with rising sax star David Mann and followed with sold out performances at Catalina Island's Jazz Trax Festival and Berks Jazz Festival, among others.
Parris has headlined performances at many prestigious New York venues, including B.B. King Blues Club in Times Square, Town Hall, Metropolitan Café, Smoke and 55 Bar.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo Releases
- Gil Parris - 1998
- Jam This! - 2000
- Blue Thumb - 2002
- Live at the Next Door Cafe - 2005
- Strength - 2006
[edit] Collaborative Works
- Syndicate of Soul - Who's Snakin' Who? (with Dr. John, Corery Glover and others)
- Bluesiana Hurricane - Halfsteppin (with Bill Doggett, Lester Bowie and others)
- Skallelujah - with Joe Ferry
- Strength - with Toko Furuuchi
- Secrets" - with Toni Braxton
- In Front of My Eyes - with Bakithi Kumalo
- Harris Bros Horns - with Joel Rosenblatt, Robert Aires and Dave Anderson
- A Woman's Love - with Vanessa Williams
- BIG SKA - with Joe Ferry
- I'll Take Care of You - with Chuck Jackson and Cissy Houston
- Let the Feeling Flow - with Matt Jordan and Kelli Sae
- Poseidon's Son - with Kati Mac
- The Christmas Album - with David Clayton Thomas
- Blues for a Sunday Morning - 2000 - Various Artists (Compilation)
- Public Domain - 2000 - Various Artists (compilation - Gil Parris was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for his creative solo guitar arrangement of "Pop Goes the Weasel")
- iBod - with Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley
- Arenal - with Ronnie Dinoto
- LIVE NRG! - NICOLE HART & THE NRG BAND
[edit] External Links
