Galen Weston - Plugged In (2015) [Hi-Res]

..beautifully written and warmly performed … What he calls influences and styles are really his own colors on his sonic palette. He chooses his colorful tones and approaches extremely well and keeps the hues and tones completely original. --Travis Rogers, JazzTimes
Guitarist and composer Galen Weston unleashes a lifetime of music on his ambitious debut album, Plugged In. After laying down his guitar for more than a decade, Weston breathes life into his almost forgotten songs, recording 10 original tracks and two covers with fine craftsmanship and intense focus, while showcasing an unwavering dedication to tonal quality and nuance.
Fueled by jazz and rock guitarists such as Mike Stern, Wes Montgomery, Mark Knopfler, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai, the record showcases his formidable guitar talents in the company of some of finest cross-genre musicians in Canada: David Woodhead (fretless bass), Al Cross (drums), Matt Horner (piano & keyboards), Richard Underhill (alto saxophone) and Rick Shadrach Lazar (percussion); as well as a guest appearance by Prague-born vocalist Lenka Lichtenberg. It was produced in Weston’s own Rose Room Recording Studio by Jim Zolis.
“This album represents a two-year journey of writing and recording across a vast musical territory. It’s a sonic and personal exploration with my Yellow Stratocaster, ES-335 and other instruments. The album is the culmination of many hours spent taming the howling of vintage Big Muffs, cleaning tape heads on old echo machines, and tweaking the tone knobs onclassic Marshall and Fender amps in the simple yet enduring search of great tones,” says Weston.
The album’s official Toronto release featuring The Galen Weston Band will take place on Wednesday, November 25th at Tattoo Queen West, which is located at 562 Queen Street West. Other dates include: Friday November 13th in Hamilton, ON (The Pearl Company); and Thursday, November 19th in Oakville, ON (The Moonshine Cafe). The Galen Weston Band will also be showcasing at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Conference in New York City January 16th and 17th.
“A refined player from Toronto, Galen Weston straddles a of styles on his auspicious debut as a leader. From his singing six-string work on the urgently funky “Bensonite" to his mellow lyricism on the melodic anthem “The Yellow Guitar," his soulful expression on “Song for Daphne" or his unapologetic chops showcase on the fusiony “Tasteless," Weston wails with conviction and rare facility. Definitely a talent deserving of wider recognition.” —Bill Milkowski, author of JACO: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius and co-author of Here And Now: The Autobiography of Pat Martino
About Galen Weston
Galen first picked up a guitar at age 11, a Sears acoustic he got for his birthday. Although a consolation prize to the electric guitar he had asked for, he played without pause until he earned enough money to buy his own. Two years later, with the new electric guitar in hand, Galen started exploring by plugging it into an amplifier and boom box to less than ideal results at first, which ignited his desire to further experiment. His musical education began with the clandestine AC/DC and KISS records he snuck home and studied for hours, with great focus on the guitar. He joined his first band at age 15, playing backyard parties in his hometown of Freelton, Ontario (population 500). A few years later, Galen was turned on to jazz by an older musician friend, who generously gave him two boxes of records. From that treasure box, Galen discovered the music of Mike Stern, Weather Report, and Pat Metheny, setting him on a new musical trajectory.
The next step on this path led Galen to attend Humber College, one of the most respected jazz education programs in North America, where his musical tastes and abilities matured but were cut short by a dire need to earn a living. Like many artists, Galen put away his guitar for many years and pursued other jobs, from construction to finance, before building his own Internet-based company with the goal of returning to music 'one day'.
That day came fifteen years later in Greece when his wife, who always identified Galen as a musician first despite his long hiatus, introduced him to a local musician who would reignite Galen’s first love and change his trajectory once again. Looking for someone to accompany him, the enthusiastic performer compelled Weston to join him around the table with his guitar. Hours passed without notice and while others listened and danced, Galen’s musical instincts were rekindled. Upon his return to Toronto, the businessman almost immediately embarked on starting his musical career. With the same intensity and focus of that 11 year old boy holding his Sears acoustic guitar, Galen built the Rose Room Recording Studio, and spent the following two years crafting his debut album and celebration of a return to music, Plugged In.