Phil Swindle - Art of Soul (2017)

Hailing from the heartland of where it all started for the original "Swampers", Phil Swindle was born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Weaned on music performed by Musicians Hall of Fame session players Barry Beckett, Roger Hawkins, David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, Pete Carr, Spooner Oldham, and Clayton Ivey, Phil was drawn like a moth to a flame. Incendiary artists like Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, The Staples, Boz Scaggs, Clarence Carter, King Curtis, and Duane Allman, were both fuel and fire for this record.

Phil was given his first guitar by his mother Dottie at age 12, but he attributes his deep blues and slide guitar influences to his older brother Marty who introduced him to delta blues greats Johnny Shines, Robert Johnson, Furry Lewis, Earl Hooker, Son House, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf.

Even as a young boy Phil grasped of the essentials of rhythm, dynamics, and the key component…emotion.

In a recent interview Phil said, "Music strikes a deep chord in all of us." "It's about emotional conveyance...like synesthesia". "If no one feels what you're playing, you've already missed the train."

Phil has performed with members of the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Derek Trucks Band, Wet Willie, Marshall Tucker Band, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Deep South, and the Rossington Collins Band. He loves recording and performing festivals and benefit concerts where musicians improvise, jam, and create music in the moment.

ART OF SOUL is his debut album and features an anthology of new original material written, produced, and arranged by Phil. This record spotlights Grammy nominee and Georgia Music Hall of Fame member Jimmy Hall. In 2016. Jimmy was recently inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame as well.

"To hear Jimmy Hall sing is an inspirational experience. He evokes deep emotion and raw power simultaneously. His voice is an open channel that flows through a very real spiritual conduit. I'm honored to call him my friend and have him on this record." - Phil

On "ART OF SOUL" Jimmy contributes incendiary vocal performance, acoustic and amplified harmonica, and tenor saxophone.

Also performing on this record are MCA recording artists, drummer/songwriter Derek Hess from the Rossington Collins Band and bassist Timmy Lindsey from Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet. The record features Malaco Horns arranger & trumpeter Dr. Leland Kornegay, tenor saxophonist, Rick "Hurricane" Johnson, Hammond B3 organist and Atlantic Records songwriter Barry Rapp from the Henry Paul Band, bassist Tommy Gilstrap, pianists Gary Ross and Steve Perez, and veteran Capricorn Records percussionist Woody Pernell.

Art of Soul fuses provocative lyrics with powerful rhythms, horns, percussion, and production elements that hearken back to the analog vibe produced by Shelter Records and artists like Delaney and Bonnie, Freddie King, Leon Russell, J.J. Cale, and early Eric Clapton.

Get on the train! Turn on to ART OF SOUL and let is sink in deep.