Andy Baylor

RENOWNED ROOTS MUSIC MAESTRO,ANDY BAYLOR, HAS BEEN A MAJOR CREATIVE FORCE IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FOR LAST 20 YEARS. HE IS LAUNCHING HIS NEW ALBUM IN SYDNEY AT THE BALD FACED STAG
ARMED WITH A HOT PINK ’61 RETRO FENDER JAGUAR AND A ’59 GIBSON L4 GUITAR,ANDY WILL BE LAYING DOWN GOSPEL,ROOTS, AND HI-LIFE GROOVES….HE WILL BE FEATURING SONGS FROM HIS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED NEW ALBUM…”BLUES IS POETRY”
THIS ALBUM OF MODERN , ORIGINAL STREET-WISE BLUES HAS BEEN RECEIVING GREAT REVIEWS AND AIRPLAY IN ROOTS MUSIC CIRCLES.
“A WONDERFUL RELEASE OF ORIGINAL BLUES” Larry Schwartz, the age
“A GORGEOUS,SPACIOUS SOUND, MAGNIFICENT” Jarrod watt,ABC
“This album explores all that is great in the blues, showing that the blues is a very broad church. From the dance inspiring rhythm of John Lee Hooker to the strolling romance of Jimmy Reed, Andy explores the poetry in the lyrics, which is often so simple, yet so precise and often beautiful. Andy pens 11 of the 13 tracks and puts it down with no frills, just authenticity, with either guitar and drums or the luxury of double bass, it is blues you rarely hear, stripped back and original, yet it could have been around 50 years.” ROOSTER, Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society
“Andy Baylor is one of Melbourne’s greatest musical treasures… he lives by his trade and his trade is music” Keith Glass, Herald Sun
“Over the years Andy Baylor has taken us on a world tour of musical styles, from western swing to Cajun boogie, country blues to sublime pop…..Like many of the finest things in life, Andy’s new record takes it’s time to reveal its many delights. What at first seems a record of simple dignity gradually emerges as emotionally complex and full of quiet passion. “ Jeff Glorfeld –the Age
“Melbourne is a treasure- trove of fine music and marvellous musical practitioners. One of the most gifted is Andy Baylor. He is a master of space and time” Ken Williams ,the Age"
Out Now!!!!!!!!
Blues is Poetry**** October 12th 2008
"Its heartening to learn that singer-songwriter Andy Baylor, a master of diverse genres,is emerging from a "difficult period of post-chemotherapy re-hab".All the more reassuring to hear this wonderful release of original songs drawing on favourite blues performers.The title might recall books by Samuel Charters or Paul Garon exploring links to verse and poetic spirit. Baylor makes his point on 13 tracks that knowlingly echo influences including John Lee Hooker and J B Lenoir. With little more than drums and bass providing appropriately minimal backing to his vocals and guitar. Key Track :the title on which he sings of "a song hidden deep inside my heart"Larry Schwartz, the Age
“Andy Baylor is one of Melbourne’s greatest musical treasures… he lives by his trade and his trade is music” Keith Glass, Herald Sun
“Over the years Andy Baylor has taken us on a world tour of musical styles, from western swing to Cajun boogie, country blues to sublime pop…..Like many of the finest things in life, Andy’s new record takes it’s time to reveal its many delights. What at first seems a record of simple dignity gradually emerges as emotionally complex and full of quiet passion. “ Jeff Glorfeld –the Age
“Melbourne is a treasure- trove of fine music and marvellous musical practitioners. One of the most gifted is Andy Baylor. He is a master of space and time” Ken Williams ,the Age
Andy Baylor, Australian musician of renown, has his roots in the inner- urban art movement of seventies’ Melbourne –a time of musical experimentation, freedom and folk clubs. He has spent the last thirty years honing his unique musical talents. Never having been drawn to mainstream commercialism, Andy has traveled the back roads of popular culture seeking knowledge and inspiration from many forgotten sources . He has drawn on America’s great 20th century legacy of popular music and his own Australian roots, creating a new individual voice combining instrumental virtuosity on several instruments with a strong sense of place and history.
The Melbourne -born roots writer and multi-instrumentalist has ,musically, seen and done more than most. Besides spreading previously little-known musical sounds across Australia in the late ‘70’s, 80’s and into the 90’s the list of blues and roots legends that Andy has played with is beyond impressive
There is probably no player in town who moves as easily from Blues to Bebop, Cajun to Western Swing, Tex-Mex to Rockabilly, Rhythm’n blues to New Orleans jazz, country to rock, folk to funky. He is Melbourne’s king of Roots and is proud to have a new album of blues-inspired original songs – Blues is Poetry
As a guitarist, Andy combines a deep knowledge of blues, jazz, folk and country music. After spending his formative years in well-loved Melbourne bands such as the Blue Rockets, The Honeydrippers and the Auto drifters , he went on to cut his teeth playing with many visiting U.S.A. masters including Jimmy Witherspoon (Legendary blues shouter), Big Jay McNeely (R ’n B saxophone pioneer), Jimmy Mc Griff (funky, famous Hammond organ virtuoso, Flaco Jimenez (tex mex accordion king), Coco Robicheaux (contemporary singer, songwriter from New Orleans), Louisiana Red (Bluesman), Screamin Jay Hawkins (voodoo blues king) and others.
He was even hand-picked by Bob Dylan to support some of his shows in ’92 with the Baylor Brothers Band (Dylan was given a copy of Andy’s first CD and the Baylor Brother's CD by music promoter and rock identity Suzette Webb in Melbourne,and he liked what he heard).....British rock-star Robert Plant was brought by his Australian tour manager to a gig in Sydney’s Graphic Arts Club in the mid ‘80’s and saw the Dancehall Racketeers in full-flight .He subsequently used the band on his ’86 tour . Not only that ,but he was so inspired by the rootsy sounds that he went back to England and cut an album of rhythm ’n’ blues under the Honeydrippers’ name!….
Andy has also toured with artists as diverse as Taj Mahal; John Mayall; Slim Whitman; New Orleans Soul singer ,Betty Harris ;Zydeco greats-Queen Ida and Rockin’ Dopsie snr ;Steve Riley’s Mamou Playboys ; Cajun band Balfa Toujours and he has played fiddle with Cajun accordionist Ray Abshire. He has also played concerts with bluegrass greats such as banjoist Bill Keith, fiddler Mark O’Connor and guitarist Dan Crary.
As for Australia’s great legacy of artists, Andy has always been a busy working musician with unmatched versatility. Over the years he has played with many artists – the great Slim Dusty and his daughter Anne Kirkpatrick;left-wing bush-band -come -rock-stars, Redgum;respected Melbourne artists such as Chris Wilson, Kerri Simpson, Swingin' Sidewalks,The Moovin and Groovin' Orchestra, The Pearly Shells big band,Continental Robert, Rick Dempster, Lil Fi, Leslie Avril and others; he has collaborated with his brothers, the legendary guitarist and vocalist,Peter Baylor ,and award -winning fiddler Donal Baylor on many projects.
Andy has written and recorded original music with Richard Frankland, Gunditjamara film maker, writer and musician, and is a founding member of the Charcoal Club. Through this band he has developed deep relationships with indigenous musicians and communities.
He has played funk,pop and world styles with Banana Oil and Nicky Bomba and has played all styles of jazz with local legends Bob Barnard and Ade Monsborough, Judy Jacques,Sandro Donati,Barry Wratten,Karl Hird, Ken Schroder, Alan Browne,Paul Williamson,Sam Lemann and others.
He has also worked in the theatre,including productions for the Melbourne Workers Theatre,Playbox theatre company and ChamberMade Opera.
During the 1980’s,with his band The Dancehall Racketeers, Andy toured everywhere in Australia, from Aboriginal settlements in Arnhem Land to big city concert halls breaking down barriers and introducing such (then unusual and obscure) styles of music as Western Swing, cajun, zydeco, rockabilly, country ,hillbilly and blues to Australian audiences. The Dancehall Racketeers are currently enjoying a renaissance in roots music circles, recording a new album and playing festivals with a new line-up.
Andy is truly one of the architects of the current “roots /blues” trend in Australian popular music and continues to be an inspiration to many younger artists. Over the last few years ,Andy has produced albums by artists such as Sarah Carroll, Tracey Miller, The Charcoal Club and the Dancehall Racketeers. He is in demand as a musical elder -statesman for many younger emerging artists and he has guested on countless contemporary country, blues and rock albums As a violinist, he has created a unique Australian sound with elements of swing, celtic, cajun, classical and country fiddle styles. In 1989 and again in 2005 he traveled the backroads of the U.S.A. as a fiddler, where he gained valuable experience meeting and playing with many musicians including mandolin great David Grisman , Texan swing fiddle master Johnny Gimble (A member of Bob Wills Texas Playboys), cajun fiddle legends Dewey Balfa, Rufus Thibodeaux and Dave Greely and accordianists Ray Abshire and Marc Savoy. This first –hand experience of has given Andy unparalleled insights into the traditions of American music. Over the years Andy has played all the leading music festivals with his band the Cajun Combo. This band specializes in a unique, hybrid mix of Louisana-inspired Cajun dance music ,blues, western swing and original tunes delivered with a definitive Australian roots flavour.
Andy continues his unique musical journey with a host of diverse musical projects and his many CDs reflect his wide artistic interests.
BLUES IS POETRY-2008 Andy’s brand new collection of blues-inspired songs and tunes, featuring original material and songs from Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker and J.B. Lenoir as well as some red hot guitar instrumentals.
THE PRESTON YEARS 2006 A collection of performances recorded at Preston Records in Melbourne with legendary western swing band the Dancehall Racketeers
CRY FREEDOM 2005 A new CD from Richard Frankland’s Charcoal Club with original songs dealing with politics, koorie life, protest songs, love songs and the search for Australian identity.
HOMETOWN STOMP, 2005 This collection of music was the result of two days of live “in the groove” recording at Barry Stockley’s Fatsound Studio in West Melbourne, August 23rd/24th 2004 ….just up the road from Festival Hall, where many of the greats have stomped it off over the years…..There is a selection of blues, stomps, boogie -woogies mixed with tex mex, country ballads, fiddle tunes and cool instrumentals……all designed for your dancing and listening pleasure.
BUCKLEY’S CHANCE, 2004. recorded at Mick Thomas’s (Weddings Parties Anything)studio and is a collection of original folk ballads. The songs and music on this C.D are strongly rooted in the past, but have a distinctive contemporary Australian aesthetic. There are elements of folk, celtic, country, cajun and blues which are transformed into new hybrid styles.
MELVILLE MILK BAR BLUES, 2003. This CD release is a veritable smorgasbord of retro-roots music styles….23 tracks collected from the vaults of the legendary PRESTON RECORDS STUDIOS, featuring a who’s who of the Melbourne underground music scene. As Andy calls it , “AUSTRALIAN AMERICANA”… a complete re-casting of such styles as BLUES,CAJUN, ROCKABILLY, BOOGIE WOOGIE, COUNTRY AND ROCK’N’ROLL. All captured by Retro Recording Guru, Graeme Thomas at his Preston Records Studio (an old abandoned milk bar in Melville Rd.) with his ’56 Pye mixer and microphones that could have come straight out of Sam Phillips’ Memphis Sun Studios.
FRONT PORCH FAVOURITES, 2003. Andy re-united with his famous brothers, fiddle virtuoso Donal, and guitarist, Peter to record this collection of old time country music with western swing , fiddle tunes, blues and fine string band pickin’….a big hit with the new-old-timey trend in Australian folk circles.
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, 2001. A collection of surreal original songs co-written with poet Nicholas Langton. A mix of folk styles, soul and modern pop.
ARCADIANA, 2000. Blues, cajun and country music influences with a deeper original input…a real re-casting and re-mixing of traditions ,recorded and produced by Nicky Bomba in his Newport Studios
THE CHARCOAL CLUB-MEETING 1. A collaboration with renaissance Gundijtamara man Richard Frankland and Lou Bennett of Tiddas fame featuring original songs, many of which were an integral part of Richard Frankland’s groundbreaking play “CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEAD” produced by Melbourne’s Playbox Theatre.
GUAVA LAMPO, 1999. A hit CD by “ funk supergroup ” Banana Oil, feat. Tim Neal, Dave Williamson and Nicky Bomba- a mixture of funky jazz, reggae and originals. This album features Andy exclusively on his Fender Jaguar guitar in a soul -jazz style and the CD won the APRA JAZZ AWARD and featured the radio hit single “My Family”
THE YARRAVILLE SESSIONS, 1998. A release by the Dancehall Racketeers with a musical mix of country swing, blues and boogie woogie-a “roots” music smorgasbord by this legendary Australian band.
THE BUSH IS FULL OF GHOSTS, 1995. An original song- cycle with a strong Australian flavour….poetry and roots music with a strong sense of place and tinged with elegaic sadness-An Australian Classic
ANDY BAYLOR’S CAJUN COMBO, 1992-TONIGHT A collection of dance music, inspired by the unique musical traditions of Louisiana. The band features many great Melbourne musicians, including George Butrumlis (Black Sorrows, Zydeco Jump)and Lisa Miller.It is powered along by the famous Daddy Cool rhythm section of Gary Young and Wayne Duncan….a classic.
"REVIEWS…REVIEWS….REVIEWS……REVIEWS….REVIEWS…."
Review from Andrew Block "Andy Baylor's Cajun Combo punch out some rollicking southern sounds when they play live, and their self-titled CD released on Shock Records promises more of the same. Fiddle and guitar player, Andy Baylor was Bob Dylan's personal choice as support act on his '92 tour, and the musos behind To drop a couple of names from this versatile band; drummer Gary Young is ex- Daddy Cool and Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons and Wayne Duncan (bass) the heart of Daddy Cool's rhythm section. Andy Baylor (guitar, vocals and fiddle) has toured with accordion player, Flaco Jiminez and played fiddle with Slim Dusty. He learnt to play cajun waltzes and two-steps from fiddlers in Louisiana. In New Orleans he soaked himself in funky blues and country, mardi gras rhythms and dance music of the juke joints. In the last couple of years Cajun Combo has played with Screaming Jay hawkins, Louisiana Red and Queen Ida and her Zydeco Band. "
Bruce Gillespie's Review "Here I was thinking that cajun music was just a tiny bit monotonous. But fortunately I listened to Andy Baylor's Cajun Combo. and my ears received a new message. For Baylor's style of cajun music has lots of variety. It has oomph and whizz as well. Baylor's band has many strengths: Andy Baylor singing male lead vocal, Lisa Miller singing female lead vocal, Peter Linden, Brendan Shearson and Sam Lemann on guitars, Wayne Duncan on bass, Gary Young on drums, Jimi Baeck on saxophone, and of course, since this is a cajun record, George Butrumlis on accordion. These people must have about three million years of musical experience between them. It shows. The songs range across a wide variety of styles, all of which are (perhaps) aspects of cajun. "Allons a Lafayette", an intrumental, is the closest the band comes to what I think is cajun: all very French, as well as bluesy. But Lisa Miller's rendition of Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billy Joe" is a convincing slow countryish rendition of a song I thought I knew well. 'These Arms of Mine', the old Otis Redding song is, on the other hand, West Coast blues. Other tracks are more country than cajun. In other words, Andy Baylor's Cajun Combo is more wide-ranging and interesting than anything you might guess from looking at the cover. Try this CD when you next need a good cheer up. "
Andra Jackson Sunday Herald Sun "From swing to cajun, Andy Baylor likes all types of unconventional music.Andy Baylor has made his name playing an array of musical styles, but with the latest CD the Melbourne musician wanted to stamp his own style on it. Baylor, founder ot the swing influenced Dancehall Racketeers and R&B sounding Honeydrippers, member of the rockabilly outfit The Autodrifters and jazz based Karl Hird Trio, now fronts his own Cajun Combo band ranging over zydeco, western swing and blues. The compulsive songwriter has penned songs for these bands and recorded with his own combo as well as the arty Banana Oil and the Karl Hird Trio, in their music idiom. In contrast, The Bush is Full of Ghosts is original material set to the US roots music of which he is an exponent. Baylor, who plays fiddle, guitar and mandolin, says the reason he got to know different styles was " partly my personality and partly the instruments I play ". A guitar is present in all styles of music, from funky rhythm to bluegrass country to acoustic jazz, he says. "But being born in Australia, one is not really born into a strict musical culture," he says. "For example, if you are born in Louisiana you play cajun music. But in Australia you get your musical culture, or I have, from records, television and books you can get records from anywhere, so all this adds up to diverse interests." With this gap in mind, Baylor came up with material that drew on the experience of living in Australia without being too self-conciously Australian. "I wanted to sing about things that were around me ," he says. " Some of those bush bands of the 80's made a self conscious attempt to be Australian, bunging on a colonial accent and corks in the hat. "I've worked with Slim Dusty and a lot of country artists and I just wanted to do something that was natural." The subjects in the songs include Melbourne's alternative culture hub, Brunswick St., the colorful character of seedy St. Kilda and Healsville's bushland. Recording began in 1993. Five tracks were down when Baylor was diagnosed with cancer. Recording was put on hold for two years. That interval left it's imprint on the later songs, which Baylor describes as more personal with an elegiac tinge. "That's why I've always loved country music. Within its simple form there is incredible scope to tap into the emotions, lost love and things like that. "The CD is dedicated to a friend who died shortly after the sessions." Peter Linden, an American preacher who played slide guitar on three tracks, died in a US plane crash. Even the title track, The Bush is Full of Ghosts, conveys a sense of loss "about the passing of Aboriginal inhabitants". Five songs were co written in 1993 with Melbourne scriptwriter Nicholas Langton. The 1996 songs include the satirical instrumental Surfin' on the No.15 Tram and King Boozoo, inspired by zydeco accordianist Boozoo Chavis." ..Keith Glass Sunday Herald Sun "Andy Baylor is one of the great musical treasures you can stumble across any night of the week plying his trade in the inner city bars of Melbourne. He plays jazz, country, blues -you name it- with equal aplomb. He recently found himself with a clutch of songs about Melbourne, the outback, Australia, lost love and Louisiana zydeco legends that just has to come out. Now they have. Andy's laconic vocals and the low-key but faultless playing from the likes of Gary Young, Wayne Duncan, Howard Cairns and Sam Lemann are a sheer joy. You don't have to whack someone over the head with a boomerang to be quintessentially Australian. When he ruminates about our own Big Brown Land, you realise all the jingoistic claptrap that passes for "Australiana" does not come near to the true sense of spirit Andy has achieved on the The Bush is Full of Ghosts"
Ken Williams EG Melbourne Age The Bush is Full of Ghosts Andy Baylor (independent release) Could this be the soundtrack for reconciliation? As Andy Baylor sings on Big Broad Land, "this land has many histories" The title song tells, "The bush is full of ghosts," while Baylor recites a list of images Australian (not to be confused with cringe-inducing "Horstryl-iarna") atop the jogging rhythm section of the sterling Gary Young and Wayne Duncan and the lyrical steel guitar of the late, truly lamented Peter Linden, to whom the album is dedicated. The 12 songs are nicely varied in tone and delivery, whether they concern the road life and the home-grown honky tonk, inner suburban haunts, lost love, the moon and good times. Baylor, who sings in a voice unaffectedly Australian, is a master guitarist and fiddler. As a musician, he has always seemed unusually sensitive to the needs of the ensemble and the song, whether he be working with locals the Dancehall Racketeers and the Cajun Combo or visiting Americans Big Jay McNeely or Jimmy McGriff; The Bush is Full of Ghosts only confirms this view. Playing throughout is immaculate and delicately balanced, even when the band drops into a variation on the swampy Suzie Q riff for King Boozoo, a tribute to Zydeco man Boozoo Chavis, or when Andy takes to the waves on the instrumental Surfin on the No.15 Tram, which brings to mind a conjunction of guitarists Gatemouth Brown (Texas) and Ernest Ranglin (Jamaica) in twangbar heaven. xxxx - Ken Williams"
AGE REVIEW OF “CRY FREEDOM” "Most of the popular songs written in the past 10 years are about booty: getting it, not getting it, shaking it or faking it, not that there's anything wrong with that. We're just not accustomed to songs about things that matter. But thoughtful music doesn't have to be dour - many of the non-booty songs by noteworthy activists such as Woody Guthrie and the early work of his best-known disciple, Bob Dylan, are wry, poignant and downright funny. The tradition can still be found in artists such as Richard Frankland. A filmmaker, playwright and indigenous activist, Frankland is also a talented musician, blessed with a soulful, mellifluous voice. He's partnered in the Charcoal Club by Andy Baylor, in top form on guitar, fiddle and anything else with strings. The pair are helped out with drums, bass and a heavenly choir of backing vocalists. And just because the songs are about subjects such as human rights ( Cry Freedom), Aboriginal issues ( Don't Go Down That Dreaming) and peace in the Middle East ( Jordan Rain), doesn't mean they can't also be luscious and tuneful, such as the gorgeous Asunder, and Baylor's delightful vocal on the Buddy Holly-ish Last Tear. Special stuff."
Review of “Buckley’s Chance” by Jeff Glorfeld, The Age,2003**** "Like many of the finest things in life, Andy Baylor’s new record takes it’s time to reveal its many delights. What at first seems a record of simple dignity gradually emerges as emotionally complex and full of quiet passion. A funny little song in which the poor sod singing knows his girl is about to dump him-“but I’ve got my Neil Young records, I know everything will be ok”-heard in the right mood is enough to break your heart. Over the years Baylor has taken us on a world tour of musical styles, from western swing to Cajun boogie, country blues to sublime pop, and its all here, including a dead-set hit single, Lightning Don’t Strike Twice(any radio programmers out there?) There’s two instrumentals of the sort Baylor and his mates could jam the whole night long on and never lose interest, but generally these songs deal with classic Australian themes of isolation and loneliness (Land of the Empty Hearted and the magnificent title song), but in a way that instils a sweet sense of yearning for the next place.Baylor’s voice ,guitars and fiddle are up front, with the wonderful Ed Bates guesting on steel and slide guitars."****four stars