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- Andy Kimbel
Andy Kimbel
Andy Kimbel is a very talented folk and country-blues performer whose star continues to rise on the national blues and folk scene. He is in the top 5 in Blues in New York and ranks very high nationally and in the
... Andy Kimbel is a very talented folk and country-blues performer whose star continues to rise on the national blues and folk scene. He is in the top 5 in Blues in New York and ranks very high nationally and in the world as one of the top acoustic blues players. When he plays, you will hear the influences of traditional blues, folk, R&B some very fancy finger style and a touch of New Orleans style roots music.
He can lead an energetic big band or hold an audience silent with his acoustic guitar “wizardry”. He performs a unique selection of material that ranges from gentle ballads and pointed originals, to improvising hard driving country blues and slide guitar using various tunings and harmonics. Andy’s own distinct interpretations set him apart and give even old traditional blues a new face, rarely hearing any song played twice the same way.
Andy raised in the Philadelphia area, said, “as a kid I listened to rock ’n’ roll, my parent’s classical music collection and whatever else was on the radio,” says Kimbel. “I discovered the music of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Peter Paul and Mary, The Weavers and, through them, songs by Bob Dylan, Reverend Gary Davis and Robert Johnson, although I did not really know who they were by name.”
Kimbel began playing the guitar and piano when he was about 9 and by 11, was playing in a band. In his early teens, he got an electric guitar and started gigging at various functions in the Philadelphia area. Andy later went to school to pursue a career in aviation and become a commercial pilot and flight instructor.
It wasn’t until a pilot furlough at the early 90’s that Andy picked up the guitar, went out and played thinking that it would give him something to do until he got back into the cockpit. He would also frequent various clubs and coffee houses watching and learning from performers like Garmet Rogers, Chris Smither, Tom Rush and Bill Morrissey. It was then that the call of the Philadelphia and New York blues and singer songwriter scene grabbed Andy and brought him in as a performer at these same venues. Andy has since shared the stage with Bella Fleck, Little Feat, Chris Smither, Ratdog, Patty Larkin, Buckwheat Zydeco, Amos Lee, The Holmes Brothers and others.
Andy over the past 19 years both solo and with a band has played Festivals, Special Events, Folk and Blues venues, Colleges, and has been featured many times on Radio and Television shows Across North America and parts of Europe. He keeps his audiences enticed with a great flow and versatility as his fingers move effortlessly across the neck of the guitar while singing and picking rhythm patterns and leads simultaneously improvising with his own compositions and a selection of traditional standards. Andy also conducts workshops in conjunction with some of his performances where aspiring musicians learn about various guitar techniques, songwriting and music production from this seasoned professional.
Kimbel is considered to be among the finest acoustic finger style folk and blues performers. His shows have lots of “wow” appeal and offer a fun time for all. If you enjoy exciting guitar work and the music of the classic acoustic country blues masters as well as guitar styles of artists such as Jorma Kaukonen, Chris Smither, Bob Dylan and Keith Richards, then you will surely appreciate a show by Andy Kimbel.
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He can lead an energetic big band or hold an audience silent with his acoustic guitar “wizardry”. He performs a unique selection of material that ranges from gentle ballads and pointed originals, to improvising hard driving country blues and slide guitar using various tunings and harmonics. Andy’s own distinct interpretations set him apart and give even old traditional blues a new face, rarely hearing any song played twice the same way.
Andy raised in the Philadelphia area, said, “as a kid I listened to rock ’n’ roll, my parent’s classical music collection and whatever else was on the radio,” says Kimbel. “I discovered the music of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Peter Paul and Mary, The Weavers and, through them, songs by Bob Dylan, Reverend Gary Davis and Robert Johnson, although I did not really know who they were by name.”
Kimbel began playing the guitar and piano when he was about 9 and by 11, was playing in a band. In his early teens, he got an electric guitar and started gigging at various functions in the Philadelphia area. Andy later went to school to pursue a career in aviation and become a commercial pilot and flight instructor.
It wasn’t until a pilot furlough at the early 90’s that Andy picked up the guitar, went out and played thinking that it would give him something to do until he got back into the cockpit. He would also frequent various clubs and coffee houses watching and learning from performers like Garmet Rogers, Chris Smither, Tom Rush and Bill Morrissey. It was then that the call of the Philadelphia and New York blues and singer songwriter scene grabbed Andy and brought him in as a performer at these same venues. Andy has since shared the stage with Bella Fleck, Little Feat, Chris Smither, Ratdog, Patty Larkin, Buckwheat Zydeco, Amos Lee, The Holmes Brothers and others.
Andy over the past 19 years both solo and with a band has played Festivals, Special Events, Folk and Blues venues, Colleges, and has been featured many times on Radio and Television shows Across North America and parts of Europe. He keeps his audiences enticed with a great flow and versatility as his fingers move effortlessly across the neck of the guitar while singing and picking rhythm patterns and leads simultaneously improvising with his own compositions and a selection of traditional standards. Andy also conducts workshops in conjunction with some of his performances where aspiring musicians learn about various guitar techniques, songwriting and music production from this seasoned professional.
Kimbel is considered to be among the finest acoustic finger style folk and blues performers. His shows have lots of “wow” appeal and offer a fun time for all. If you enjoy exciting guitar work and the music of the classic acoustic country blues masters as well as guitar styles of artists such as Jorma Kaukonen, Chris Smither, Bob Dylan and Keith Richards, then you will surely appreciate a show by Andy Kimbel.
Edited by BluesDJ
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