Who is Gabriel Mark Hasselbach? The story behind the Jazz Force who just debuted two CDs at once to different jazz formats -- "Gabriel's Horns" to the smooth jazz format and "Come Out Swingin'" (featuring guest vocalist Michael Bublé) for traditional jazz lovers.
Here's the history of composer and performer Gabriel Mark Hasselbach who shows his versatility and talent to its fullest in these two new releases: "Gabriel's Horns" and "Come Out Swingin'" on the independent Wind Tunnel Multimedia label.
(PRWEB) September 12, 2003 -- "Gabriel may look like a mild mannered young executive with a horn, but appearances mask a funkmeister of diverse talents." Elle O'Day of Vancouver's Georgia Straight observes. Further, Alex Varty from the same publication says about Gabriel: "His abilities as a composer are on a par with his competence as a musician and I have no trouble seeing his material being picked up by others."
Here's the story of behind the "funkmeister:"
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach has found an enviable double edged lifestyle, and musical expression, in the beautiful cities of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Kihei, Maui. He plays trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone, flute, and alto flute (this combination a virtually unheard of feat), and is considered Canada's foremost exponent on digital wind instruments.
Gabriel Mark (call him Gabriel!) is well versed in all styles of music, with jazz being his main love. He can be heard in many styles and contexts, not only on his own nine CDs, but on a myriad of album projects by various artists (John Denver, Diamond In the Rough, Alibi, Long John Baldry, Jim Byrnes, Vancouver Ensemble For Jazz Improvisation, The Good Bros. etc.). He has even had the opportunity to perform in the bands of such legends as Little Richard, Mary Wells, The O Jays, Long John Baldry, Ben E. King, and Heart.
Solo career aside, he is well known to a wide audience through his long association with Canada's multi-platinum recording group, The Powder Blues. This band has the distinction of having the largest selling crossover blues album in Canada, and was the darling of the international blues circuit.
His stay with that ensemble encompassed all seven of their albums and brought critical acclaim and subsequent world tours, as headline act themselves, as well as tours with such mega-stars as the The Who, ZZ Top, Bob Seger, James Cotton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tower of Power, etc. While with Powder Blues, GMH was awarded a JUNO Award in 1980 (Canadian equivalent to a Grammy) for Most Promising Group. He has also received the Ampex Golden Reel Award. The West Coast Music Award, and several gold, platinum, and double platinum record awards.
GMH's 1981 critically acclaimed solo debut Solar Winds, on Polygram, raised his profile in the music world and paved the way for his 1981 and 1982 JUNO/Technics All Star Band Awards, which he won despite stiff competition from other talented international brass and wind players, such as Maynard Ferguson. GMH scored a summertime hit on the Canadian A/C charts in 1989 with his song Use the Power of Our Love from his Passion CD. This project introduced Canadian audiences to his rapidly expanding skills on the first generation of electronic wind instruments. From this album was spawned his first rock style song video, Humanimal, which was quickly snapped up for heavy rotation by Much Music, Canada's version of MTV.
1988 saw GMH and his touring band in Australia performing at Expo 88, where an hour-long concert video was taped and subsequently broadcast in Australia and Canada. Gabriel Mark has also toured Japan, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada extensively. He has been fortunate enough to perform at many festivals including the very prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz and Blues Festival in Holland. Canadian highlights include performing on the nationally televised JUNO Awards show and headlining at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. He was featured at MusicFest among such luminaries as Louie Bellson, Pete Christlieb, Guido Basso, Phil Nimmons, Pat La Barbera, The New York Voices, Denny Christianson, and others. GMH and his full 22 piece orchestra performed for the opening of the new Vancouver Airport and Canada Day Celebration at Canada Place.
GMH has continued his musical odyssey by branching out into the realm of film, commercial, and multimedia music. He has done hundreds of radio and television jingles for such diverse clients as Sony, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pontiac, General Motors, National Geographic, McDonalds, and a host of others. His music has been used in films such as Double Jeopardy, Breach of Trust, and Crash; television productions such as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and Mating Calls in the Urban Jungle; in animation such as Canvas Cat and Bongo Bat; and in multimedia projects such as Vision Masters Multimedia Collection.
In the spring of 2000, Gabriel recorded Live On Maui at the famed Maui Arts and Cultural Center on Maui, Hawaii, and this exciting performance has been captured on CD and DVD, and which aired as an hour long video special for BET On Jazz worldwide, and which remains in rotation in 41 countries.
In 2002, GMH enjoyed the release of his tracks on two separate European compilation releases of heavy hitters in the industry. He joins forces with Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Billy Cobham, to name a few. Throughout late 2002 and early 2003, Gabriel has been performing as special guest with Michael Buble' (in support of his Billboard top 100/David Foster produced/ Warner Bros. CD), and has been a guest performer on The Chris Isaak Show (Showtime) and the Vicki Gabareau Show (CTV). Michael guests on Gabriel's recent album Come Out Swingin'.
His latest album Gabriel's Horns goes to radio in September 2003 and kicks off with the single Maui Rain, with a new video. He has festival tour stops in Canada, Hawaii, Florida, Atlanta, Colorado, & Washington, to name a few. It is going to be a very good 2004 for Gabriel and his Horns.
Gabriel is available for interviews and looks forward to any chance to share his music, philosophy of the arts, thoughts on Mainstream versus Smooth formats, and the answer to the often asked question of just why he leads a "Double Jazz Life."
Purchase CDs, download samples, and view videos at: http://www.gabrielmarkhasselbach.com and http://www.gabrieljazz.com. There is a wealth of music, video, and downloadable high resolution promo tools available at both these sites.
For more information, contact Wind Tunnel Multimedia at wtm@sassabrass.com or via gmh@gabrieljazz.com. The PR contact is Maggie Holben at maggie@absolutelypr.com
# # #
|
