John-paul Gard - PEDAL MANIA

Hello Everyone, thank you for logging on to Pedal Manias My Space page. Please see below to help you understand more about us.
WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO
Pedal Mania is a Hammond Organ band lead by John-paul Gard (organ) playing Jazz, Blues and Funk or anything groove based. Our aims are to bring Jazz and Blues music to a wider selection of people including young and old, and to help develop and promote the organ as a leading musical instrument.
We were formed in the year 2000 and line up of the band is usually a trio, but can change depending on requirments.
Past gigs have included many UK festivals (see below) and Jazz clubs including Swanage,Swindon,Southampton, St Ives,Devizes, Cardiff, Swansea, also we have played many Clubs and Jazz pubs through out the UK and have a fine following.
John-paul Gard (o) Ben Waghorn (s) Eddie John (d) Symphony Hall
INFLUENCES
John-paul Gard started playing the organ at the age of 10. Within eight months he had made it into the finals fo the UK's best organ player. He continued his studies and was influenced by musicians such as Jimmy Smith, Joey Defrancesco, Harry Stoneham, Alan Woodley, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Jerry Allen, George Flurey, Tony Pegler, and Alan Haven.
At the age of 10 and 3/4 he worked for in retail for a local organ shop part time for 6 years demonstrating and playing for concerts. He met some of the finest players and demonstrators inthe business, this was an amazing experience and helped him to develop his own style, which has been described as a cross between Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Mc Griff, and Joey Defrancesco.
At the age of 20, John-paul gained a place on a 3 year music composition course at Coventry University and studied with Prof Julian Heleby, Dr Chirstopher Best, Owen Dutton, and Robert Ramskill. It was during this time that he had the privilege of gaining tuition from Jason Rebello and Dave Buxton. During his studies at Coventry University he was also offered a place at Berkley Music College in the USA.
RECENT FESTIVALS
2008 was a fantastic year for us and have worked with a great variety of players at festivals including:
Cameron Pierre (g) (Courtney Pine) at the Birmingham Jazz Festival, Ben waghorn (s) and Winston Clifford (d)at Swanage Jazz Festival, Andy Christie (g) Organ Trio with Dave Sheen(d) at the Dartmouth Festival (part of a 4 day tour) Ben Waghorn Organ Trio with Eddie John(d) at Swindon Jazz festival, The Cook Book with the amazing Alex Hutchings (g) and Gethin Jones (d) 3 gigs at the Glastonbury Festival, The Isle of wight Jazz festival with Frank Waldon (s) and Graham Fox (d), Nantwich Jazz Festival with Neil Bullock (d) and Kevin Figies (s). Andraes Oberg (g) at the gipsy jazz guitar festival, Esmond Selwin (g) at the Liverpool guitar festival.
John-paul Gard (o) Alex Hutchings (g) Gethin Jones (d) Glastonbury 2008
Andreas Oberg (g) John-paul Gard (o) Eddie John (d) Gossington Gipsy Jazz Guitar Festival
I Got it Bad - my first CD featuring Organ classics from Jimmy Smith and standards with a quintet
Beef Dumplin Stew *£5.99 - an 11piece band using some of the finest players playing originals to metheny, brecker, and standards (groovy) http://cdbaby.com/cd/jpgard to hear more audio clips
Pedalb0y FM *£4.99 - a concept album, very experimental played live with the use of samplers, vocals and a hammond B3 with drums (very wacky) www.johnpaulgard.com to hear audio clips
Bricking It - trio CD playing mixture of standards and originals by L.A supremeo guitarist Jon Dalton
A66 - Sax ace Ben Waghorns latest creation played live as a trio Organ, Drums and Sax
The Cookbook years - amazing Alex Hutchings playing George Bensons guitar in a tribute to the great George Benson
The above CDs are available via Pay Pal or CD baby just email me for the link to purchase, and CDs are normally despatched for next day delivery.
*please note that these are the currently avaliable cds for despatch at the moment
MERCHANDISE
We also have a range of T-shirts, baseball caps, mugs and pens available at your request, just send a email an I can forward info to you.
THANK YOU
I would like to thank all my Pedal Mania musicans, family and friends that have helped/played with me over the recent years for there loyality and friendship.
I believe that playing music is one of the greatest privilages to have, and have had many tough times like many other of my work colleague's, but I still enjoy every working moment like it was my first.
Thank you
JOHN-PAUL GARD
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