Andy Gallo: Music

Music

Intro ... Musical Resume ... Friends ... The Sanctuary

Music has been a big deal in my life for as long as I can remember. From trumpet in the high school band, to the choir in college (where we had the chance to play on the stage of Carnegie Hall), to numerous groups in the "garage band" vein, as well as some other more serious projects.

My tastes run the gamut from rock, to jazz, to bluegrass, to spacey electronica to just about anything. I aspire to someday play in an electric jazz trio, but I'm quite happy now playing a mixture of the blues, rock, and bluegrass.

My main instrument is a Warwick 5-string electric bass. My other instrument is a Taylor 4-string acoustic bass guitar I play mostly in bluegrass and folk circles. I prefer La Bella strings, made in Newburgh, NY. I play through an Ampeg bass rig, and also use a battery powered Pignose 30-watt bass amp for "playing a-field".

Influences? The musical genius of the instrument to me is James Jamerson, famous Funk Brother and house bassist at Motown. It just doesn't get better than that. Jaco Pastorius, in so much as he's the consumate soloist on the instrument. "Sir" Paul McCartney is a great melodic player.

My resume of musical experiences:

Singer... bassist... stage actor... DJ... student of music...

(2003 - 2006) Program Director of CRUMBS Radio

(2001 - 2005) electric bass and vocals with blues cover band Boot the Owl; playing local area clubs

(2002 - 2003) Founder and Program Director of Sanctuary Radio

(fall 2002) acoustic bass guitar and vocals with folk singer/songwriter Peter Rawitch; played local chuch

(1999) acoustic bass guitar with Peter Rawitch; played Cafe Lena, live WPYX feature

(1998 - 1999) acoustic bass guitar and vocals with The Willies bluegrass band; played local coffee houses, churches, private functions, and bluegrass contests

(1993 - 2001) various "garage band" projects and "open mics"; instruments included trumpet, fretless and fretted electric bass, synthesizers, and percussion; gained project studio recording experience in analog, digital, and MIDI domains

(1995 - 1996) studied electric bass under Konstantin Tsykun in Burnt Hills

(1993 - 1994) studied Afro-Cuban percussion under Barry Irving in Albany, NY

(1988 - 1989) SUNY-Albany Madrigal Singers

(1987 - 1988) Boston University Chorus; performed at Carnegie Hall with American Symphony Orchestra; classwork in music theory and voice

(1987 - 1988) DJ on WTBU AM, Boston University student radio station

(1986) New York All-State Choir

(1983 - 1987) Draper & Mohanasen High School choir; concert and stage musical soloist - "Guys and Dolls" (Nicely-Nicely), "Fiddler on the Roof" (Tevye), and other supporting roles

(1983 - 1987) Schalmont High School summer theatre; lead actor and soloist - "Once Upon a Matress" (Prince Dauntless), "The Sound of Music" (Captain Von Trapp), "Fiddler on the Roof" (Tevye)

(1983 - 1986) Draper High School stage and marching bands; 1st trumpet, soloist

Here are some of my musical friends:
- Boot the Owl - Electric Blues Experience. I joined them on bass and backing vocals in 2001.
- Daring Ventures, Inc - Darrell Vernum, a singer / song-writer and old friend from back in the high school daze. I play bass and sing on a number of DVI projects, including "Sense", an electric quintet featuring Darrell's original songs, and our acoustic jazz duo project, "The Infidels". The Infidels are working our material in a live setting playing coffee houses and open mics in the Albany, NY area now - come and hear us!
- Grey Fox - This annual bluegrass festival, held in Ancramdale, NY, has been the highlight of my summer for going on many years now. The playing 'round the campfire goes on all night.
- Hair of the Dog - My wife's cousin is the banjo player in this popular Irish folk band, based in Delmar, NY.
- Slammboni - aka Bill Andrejko, a San Francisco based drummer and music teacher, and old friend.
- WTBU - Back in the college days at Boston University I was a DJ on the student station. WTBU is now streaming their broadcasts straight to the Net.
The Sanctuary is my rehearsal space / recording studio where I get to practice my musical and engineering skills. Some people would call it a basement, but I call it "The Sanctuary". The room is equipped for analog or multi-track digital recording and editing.