Bill Gable
No Straight Lines (Autograph 502, 2015)
American singer-songwriter, producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Bill Gable has been traveling the world, absorbing musical influences and this is what we find in his latest recording, “No Straight Lines.” Several of Bill Gable’s songs have flamenco-style arrangements, featuring various flamenco styles, percussion and guitar.
In May of 2004, Gable attended the Fes Festival of Sacred Music in Morocco. He started writing some of these songs inspired by Sufi musicians and writers. The following year, Gable spent time in Lisbon, listening to fado, tracing the footsteps of his literary idol, Fernando Pessoa. In his room he continued writing. Then in 2006, Gable spent several weeks in a small, whitewashed village in southern Spain, spending practically every day hard at work writing, inspired by the music of Andalusia in the western Mediterranean. That mix of influences became “No Straight Lines.”
The lineup on “No Straight Lines” includes Gable on vocals, guitars and cello; Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group) and Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets, Bruce Hornsby) on bass; Larry Goldings (John Mayer, Curtis Stigers) on piano; Greg Ellis (Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussein) and Joey Heredia (Stevie Wonder, Sergio Mendes) on percussion; Ethan Margolis (Inés Bacán, El Lebrijano) on flamenco guitar, cajon and palmas; Manuel Gutierrez (Duquende, Louis Winsberg) on flamenco footwork; Kai Narezo on flamenco guitar; Arturo Solar on flugelhorn and trumpet; Judd Miller on ney and duduk; Alfredo Cáceres on flamenco guitar; Chris Beth on zurna;.
The album also includes string arrangements by Argentine musicians Jorge del Barrio (Dianne Reeves, Sheryl Crow) and Eduardo del Barrio (Caldera, Stan Getz) with the Eclipse Quartet: Sarah Thornblade (violin), Sara Parkins (violin), Alma Lisa Fernandez (viola) and Maggie Parkins (cello). “No Straight Lines” also includes background vocals by Motown legend Leon Ware and other singers.
Bill Gable studied classical piano and cello, has a degree in literature, and has traveled extensively. He released “There Were Signs” (Private Music/BMG and re-released worldwide by Sony Records in 2013) in 1989. The album mixed jazz, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban sounds. “This Perfect Day” (2003) ventured further into jazz, featuring Afro-Cuban and tango influences.
“No Straight Lines” is a beautifully crafted album that highlights the delightful intimate and passionate voice of Bill Gable combined with refreshing flamenco, jazz and southern Mediterranean musical influences.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
