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| Gerry Joe Weise, Australian musician, blues guitarist, singer songwriter. |
Gerry Joe Weise biography.
Gerry Joe Weise, Australian blues musician, guitarist, singer and songwriter, was born in 1959 and grew up in Sydney. He has been playing guitar since the age of 4 years old, and a professional musician since 1976. In the beginning as a teenager, he had the guitarist spot in several Sydney bands that opened for AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Angels, Rose Tattoo and Dragon. He later moved to Europe searching for new musical experiences, while living in Germany, Switzerland and France, establishing contacts with touring agents and record companies in Europe and the USA.
Gerry Joe Weise initiated his solo career as leader of his own band in 1991. As a songwriter, he has published over 80 original songs, ranging from blues to rock to jazz. He has released over a dozen albums and singles with the Chicago based label, Blues Breaking Records. He has toured Australia, the United States, Western and Eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Polynesia, the Azores Isles, and New Zealand. Throughout his many tours, he has played with Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Eric Clapton, and Noel Redding. While at other various European events, he has opened for Ray Charles, Gary Moore, the Yardbirds, Canned Heat, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Robert Cray, and Jimmie Vaughan. Juma Sultan (ex Jimi Hendrix) has recently been a band member for European and USA Festivals.
A guitar style that is fused with blues rock and jazz. Gerry Joe Weise has performed at numerous blues and jazz festivals. 1992 9th Chicago Blues Festival (European Tour after Chicago) in Saint-Dizier, France, supporting the Chicago Blues Festival Band with the members Jerry McCain, Gary B.B. Coleman, Luther "Houserocker" Johnson, and Kip Anderson. 1992 San Francisco Blues Festival (European Tour after San Francisco) in Reims, France. 1993 12th Musiques de Jazz et d'Ailleurs in Amiens, France, supporting Buddy Guy. 1994 1st Festival Blues Passions in Cognac, France, supporting Otis Grand Big Blues Band. 1996 30th Commemoration of the first Jimi Hendrix Experience Concert, with guest Noel Redding. 1996 14th Cahors Blues Festival, France. 1999 1st Nuit du Blues in Vic-sur-Cere, France, supporting the Acoustic Blues Summit Trio with the members Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Joe Louis Walker and Billy Branch. 1999 7th Jazz and Blues Festival in Leognan, France, supporting Deborah Coleman.
During the later period of his music career, he was often the headliner or co-headliner for numerous festivals. 2008 5th Santa Maria Blues Festival, Azores islands, Portugal. 2009 16th Artfest in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. 2009 7th Grosses Guitares Festival in Vaugneray, France. 2010 9th Blues en VO Festival in Paris, France, supporting Joe Louis Walker. 2012 4th Gardenstock Art and Music Festival in Dixon, Illinois, United States, a benefit concert for the Sinnissippi Centers. 2012 5th Presqu'ile Blues Festival in Ambialet, France. 2013 10th Hookrock Roots and Blues Festival in Diepenbeek, Belgium. 2013 4th Unhate Festival in Paris, France, with band member Juma Sultan. 2014 6th Gardenstock Art and Music Festival in Dixon, Illinois, United States, with band member Juma Sultan. 2014 13th Blues on Broadbeach Festival on the Gold Coast, Australia. 2017 6th and 2018 7th Mitchell Creek Rock N Blues Festival on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. 2018 52nd Goodna Jacaranda Festival in Brisbane, Australia. 2019 Cooly Rocks On Festival in Coolangatta, Australia.
Gerry Joe Weise, Axis Triple Albums,
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DISCOGRAPHY :
Blues Breaking Records.
Contemporary ARC Australia.
Albums.
2019, Axis Volume 3 USA Tour.
2019, Axis Volume 2 Australian Tour.
2019, Axis Volume 1 French Tour.
2018, Live and Lost in the Netherlands.
2017, Laon Blues Festival.
2016, Blues Gone Wild.
2014, Stormy Sydney, 20th Anniversary.
2012, Live And Proud.
2011, Live Blues World Tour.
2009, Blues Down Under.
2005, Sydney Paris Blues.
1999, Bushman Boogie Deluxe.
1998, Bushman Boogie. (Musea)
1996, A Letter To Jimi. (ABM Records)
1994, Live In Paris.
Singles.
2021, Coo-ee Symphoney. (Contemporary ARC Australia)
2020, Bushland Sinfonietta. (Contemporary ARC Australia)
2020, Love in Life - Duet for 2 Pianos. (Contemporary ARC Australia)
2020, Under the Waves Sinfonietta. (Contemporary ARC Australia)
2018, Manic Depression, Jimi Tribe.
2016, Blue Concerto For Orchestra, Slide Guitar and violin.
2011, Blues For Gary Moore.
2010, Gerry Joe's Houserocker.
Albums and singles, available to all stores and all countries. Amazon, Apple Music, iTunes, Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, Google Music, Want It All, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Napster, MediaNet, TouchTunes, PlayNetwork, VerveLife, Gracenote, Shazam, 7Digital, Juke, Slacker, KKBox, Akazoo, Anghami, Spinlet, Neurotic Media, Yandex, Target Music, ClaroMusica, Zvooq, Saavn, 8tracks, Q.Sic, Kuack, Boomplay Music, SimfyAfrica, etc...
The last 10 years, 2009 to 2020 :
The last ten years have been significant for Gerry Joe Weise. The year 2009 saw his new opus "Blues Down Under", which met with critical success, that led to numerous tours of the USA and Europe.
In 2010 he opened for Robert Cray and Buddy Guy in the USA, and added to the European and USA tours: Hawaii, Polynesia, Fiji, Tahiti, Poland, North Africa and New Zealand. 2011 saw the "Live Blues World Tour" album with live recordings from the previous year's touring of the North and South Pacific, USA, Europe and Africa. Also in that year was released the single "Blues For Gary Moore" which has become Weise's most popular downloaded song.
The year 2012 had again tours of the USA and Europe, while adding to that year's tour list; Russia, Lithuania and Belarus. During the same year, the definitive Gerry Joe Weise live album "Live and Proud", a compilation of his best live tracks appeared, which was well received by the critics.
All of 2013 was devoted entirely to touring Western and Eastern Europe including Russia, Scandinavia, and around the Mediterranean Sea on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica; while preparing for the following year's album release.
That brings us up to 2014, with the release of "Stormy Sydney, 20th Anniversary", celebrating 20 years as a solo recording artist, representing twelve of his finest songs, and Weise's most popular album to date. After the February album launch, he embarked on a tour of Vietnam, Australia including the Broadbeach Blues Festival QLD, on a USA tour culminating at the Gardenstock Festival with band member Juma Sultan (ex Jimi Hendrix, Woodstock 69) in Dixon IL. A stopover in Fiji, over to Europe organized by Sony, then back to Australia again.
The main 2015 festival with Juma Sultan on percussion, was at Sunshine's Ride and Awareness event, Warehouse 66, Kernersville, North Carolina USA.
The album "Blues Gone Wild", was released worldwide in April 2016. 12 songs (including 3 songs in concert), with 28 musicians featuring Juma Sultan on percussion. Recorded in the USA, Australia, France, Switzerland, by Blues Breaking Records USA. The album was voted number 1 Best Australian Blues Rock Album by the Australian Blues Rock Magazine website, both from the Critic's Choice and the Reader's Selection. The 2016 single with Weise's classical music composition "Blue Concerto for Orchestra, Slide Guitar and Violin", where he performs slide guitar, violin and piano, was recorded with the St Peters Orchestra and Choir in Sydney.
In July 2017, the live album titled "Laon Blues Festival" was released, it was recorded in concert at the Maison des Arts et Loisirs, in Laon, France. In September 2017, they were one of the headlining bands along with legendary Chain, at the Mitchell Creek Rock 'n' Blues Festival, in Queensland, Australia.
2018 has been a busy year with the new album "Live and Lost in the Netherlands", and the single EP release "Manic Depression (Jimi Tribe); the latter was mixed and mastered at the celebrated Electric Lady Studios in NYC (of Jimi Hendrix fame). The single and album, have both received popular radio airplay in Australia and abroad. The Gerry Joe Weise Blues Band toured New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, and South Australia. They played prestigious Australian venues like the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra, and Lizotte's in Newcastle. They were headliners at several festivals in New South Wales and Queensland. In September, Matt Taylor of Chain joined them on stage, for a memorable jam session at the Mitchell Creek Rock 'N' Blues Festival on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia. In December, Gerry Joe embarked on another World Tour with the SONY XMAS TOUR 2018, taking him from Australia, to Spain, France, Germany, Russia, the USA, then back to Australia again.
In 2019 he performed to an enthusiastic crowd at the famous Cooly Rocks On Festival in Coolangatta, Australia. He also released Australia's first triple blues album and available as 3 separate discs: Axis Volume 1 French Tour, Axis Volume 2 Australian Tour, Axis Volume 3 USA Tour.
In 2020 was released Weise's opus, "Under the Waves Sinfonietta", recorded by the Gerry Joe Weise Octet, and "Love in Life - Duet for 2 Pianos", available as singles and music scores; released by the record company Contemporary ARC Australia.
A Blast from the Past, 1970s / 1980s :
As a teenager, Gerry Joe Weise's first initiation into jazz in Sydney, was when he joined the jazz fusion quintet Corroboree in 1978. Film composer Cezary Skubiszewski played keyboards, and Manfred Mann Chapter Three's Craig Collinge was the drummer. When Weise left Australia to broaden his musical horizons in 1980, he chose Frankfurt for the music scene. In that city and same year, Weise became one of the members of the Jazzkeller's house band. He backed a variety of German jazz musicians and American blues artists, Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Eric Clapton. Weise made the move to Munich in 1982, and joined the German jazz fusion quintet with horn section, Tour de Force. They were known for their compositions with complex time signatures. The quintet played famous venues in Bavaria, such as the Jazzclub Unterfahrt, the Vielharmonie and the Wintergarten. Towards the end of 1984, Weise left Germany to establish himself in France. Primarly for concert performances, these jazz formations had no official album released, although each group had demo recordings for bookings or promotional use. These jazz ensembles were important to a young Weise, honing his musical skills on the guitar, whereby he played for an approximate two year period with each. During the 1980s Weise's main musical instrument was a vintage 1967 Gibson ES-340 guitar, walnut color with a rosewood fretboard, and original pickups.
Three of Weise's compositions from this jazz period, have been recorded with other musicians, and released on his later solo albums, including two Australiana titles. "Cadillac Jazz", Blues Down Under (2009). "Southern Star Cross", Live and Proud (2012). "Bondi Soul Ride", Blues Gone Wild (2016).
In addition, two jazz standards have been a staple on Weise's music repertoire, and released on his solo albums. Billy Cobham's "Stratus", Axis Volume 1 French Tour (2019). Miles Davis' "All Blues", Axis Volume 3 USA Tour (2019).
Heading into the 1990s :
The inception of Gerry Joe Weise's solo blues music career began in 1991, which was initiated in Europe, before relocating back to Australia in 1999. In 1992, Weise was invited to perform at the Chicago Blues Festival, that was touring Europe after the Chicago debut. The festival took place at the Palace in Saint-Dizier, France. Weise was supporting the Chicago Blues Festival Band with the members Jerry McCain, Gary B.B. Coleman, Kip Anderson, Luther "Houserocker" Johnson, and T.K. Lively. L'Est Republicain's reporter Ginette Bellac, described the evening as an exceptional musical moment of joy, that was "bewitched by the blues". Bellac proclaimed that Weise as guest act, "gave a great performance" that warmed up the Palace, "thanks to the dynamic well executed songs". The following year, Weise was invited to participate at the 1993 Musiques de Jazz et d'Ailleurs Festival supporting Buddy Guy. They performed on the fourth evening, of the five day festival in Amiens, France.
Soul Bag magazine's Publication Director, Jacques Perin, described Weise as "an excellent guitarist with technical skills, both rapid and precise". Perin reviewed Weise's first official album Live in Paris released in 1994, and specified that Weise is a tried and true, musician and composer. Indicating that the album arrangements are progressive music, expanding the stylistic boundaries associated with the blues. Hence the reason why Weise subtitled the original album release, Cosmic Blues at Le Cadran. Weise recorded the album live in concert, at the Cadran-Omnibus in Colombes, Paris, on 6 May 1994. The same venue where the Jimi Hendrix Experience had performed in 1967, or other notable bands from the 1960s, like The Who.
The Gerry Joe Weise Band won first place as "best band" in 1995, at the Planches Musicales (Battle of the Bands), on National Youth Day in France. Weise used the 6,000 euro Grant for Creation, to fund the 1995 album A Letter to Jimi. A tribute to Jimi Hendrix, with a collection of mainly electric guitar orientated blues rock, that also featured some tracks with acoustic guitars, and a track with didgeridoo. A compilation of six Hendrix compositions, two Hendrix arrangements, and two bonus tracks. Marc Elliot of Guitar Planet Magazine, described the bonus tracks as outstanding. The album title track "A Letter to Jimi", was Weise's own original composition of dreamy soulful blues, dedicated to the memory of James Marshall Hendrix. The other bonus track "The Story of Life", which was the last poem written by Hendrix, had the musical arrangement composed and sung by Weise, and performed on a vintage 1930 National resonator guitar (Triolian model). Elliot had remarked that it was "a harrowing religious text", and added, "much like Jim Morrison's 'An American Prayer', only better." The album reviewed by Kenneth Voss editor-in-chief of Voodoo Child Magazine, directed the reader's attention to how Weise pays complete respect to Hendrix via personal interpretations. Voss evoked the "A Letter To Jimi" song, with overlaying sitar and resonator guitars, as a "country-folk meets psychedelic-Indian influences".
The album A Letter to Jimi, earned Weise an invitation to perform for an hour, at the 1996 30th Commemoration of the first Jimi Hendrix Experience concert. Voodoo Child Magazine reported that Weise's personal interpretations, infused "originality and musicality" into that night's performance. The ceremony took place at the Palais des Congres in Evreux, France, on 15 October. Celebrating the very first Experience concert during the Jimi Hendrix Experience French Tour 1966, at the Cinema Le Novelty in Evreux, 13 October 1966. The special guests for the 30th Commemoration festival, were Noel Redding (performer) and Kathy Etchingham. A memorial plaque was unveiled by the city mayor before the concert.
What could have been Weise's double album, was divided between two productions, with two different record companies. Bushman Boogie was released in 1998, and Bushman Boogie Deluxe in 1999. Both albums are compiled entirely of original material, with all texts and music composed by Weise. Who revisited many of his Australian childhood haunts, via album tracks with Australiana titles. "Broken Hill Blues", "Kiama Beach Jamboree", "Dreamtime Shuffle", "Corroboree", "Boomerang Ocean", "Rainbow Serpent Dreaming", "Katoomba Express", and "Last Train to Adelaide". These Australian place names, along with the aboriginal didgeridoo showcased on several compositions, demonstrates Weise's passion for returning to his roots. Christophe Mourot of Soul Bag magazine described the Bushman Boogie series, as being a fine blend of excellent blues rock guitars, coalesced with Australian traditional instruments. Bluesboarder magazine's Publication Director, Patrick Dallongeville, argued that Weise is among the very few artists to ever intergrate the didgeridoo into the blues genre. Dallongeville adduced two major influences, Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Winter, when relating to the songs that featured Weise's blues rock trio. Elmore James was also cited as another influence, for the slide guitar instrumental "Gerry Joe's Houserocker", which was recorded on a 1964 vintage Danelectro Silvertone guitar (1457 model).
The third Millennium, the 2000s :
After the success of the albums Bushman Boogie and Bushman Boogie Deluxe, Weise returned to Australia in late 1999, to embark on the Outback Tour of the Northern Territory. Apropos a concert on 29 November 2000 at the Dinah Beach Yacht Club in Darwin, the Top End News designated, "Gerry Joe Weise's down to earth blues with funky rock rhythms, are tinged with local themes from the Outback." The tour continued into 2001, when they reached Dunmarra on the 30th of March, the Northern Territory News announced, "Gerry Joe Weise and his Bushman Boogie are on their Outback Tour. With 46 concert dates, and blues bordering on the crossroads of rock and country". Weise was in pursuit of creating music with indigenous Australians, and chose Darwin as a transient hometown, known for the vibrant indigenous scene. As part of the Government of Australia's incentive program for Aboriginal culture, Weise was sent by the Charles Darwin University to the remote aboriginal communities of Manmoyi and Gunbalanya. During his sojourns in 2000 and 2001, Weise worked with the aboriginal musical group Nabarlek. Aiding in songwriting and music arrangements, for the 2001 album Bininj Manborlh / Blackfella Road (nominated for an ARIA Award for Best World Music Album in 2002). Weise reunited with Nabarlek nine years later, when he played lead guitar for the Nabarlek Band at the Cite de la Musique on 13 February 2010 in Paris, France. Performing at the Terres de Resistance, a four day world music festival, which also featured the Malien Tinariwen and the Navajo Blackfire.
By 2005, Weise already had ten years experience as a solo recording artist with his album release, Sydney Paris Blues. Guitarist Magazine titled the album "Disc of the Month", and claimed Weise was deeply-rooted in Australia's heritage with original acoustic songs of Australiana, like his self-penned "Bushranger Ned Kelly" performed on a 1930 National resophonic guitar, and "Sydney Blues". While Soul Bag magazine underlined Weise's well produced, and "huge electric guitar sound". Noting that there were many passages with "heroic guitar solos", well mastered and executed.
Later in the 2010s :
Between 2013 and 2015, Juma Sultan as guest musician, joined the Gerry Joe Weise Band. Sultan had performed with Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, and played on over a dozen Hendrix posthumous releases, as well as on two Archie Shepp albums. Weise and Sultan conducted new arrangements of Hendrix classics, that were added to the original compositions penned by both artists. Additionally, on the repertoire was Miles Davis' "All Blues". Weise played lead guitar and sang, while Sultan performed on percussion, flute and vocals. Together with their backing band, the ensemble headlined festivals. The Unhate Festival (a.k.a. Belovely Day), at the Petit Bain in Paris, France, on 4 August 2013. The Gardenstock Art and Music Festival, at Distinctive Gardens in Dixon, Illinois, United States, on 16 August 2014. Sunshine's Awareness Ride and Concert, a benefit for the National Organization for Rare Disorders, at the Warehouse Sixty Six in Kernersville, North Carolina, United States, on 29 August 2015.
Two live recordings featuring Juma Sultan on percussion from the 2014 Gardenstock Art and Music Festival, were added to Weise's 2016 studio album Blues Gone Wild. "Aussie Boogie" and "Inside-Looking Out". The Australian Blues Rock Magazine had written about the track "Inside-Looking Out" from the Blues Gone Wild album, "the Eric Burdon song performed by Weise's soulful vocals and exciting adventurous guitar playing, intertwining with Juma Sultan's congas and percussion; they twine the threads of blues for our future!".
Technical :
Guitars : Fender Stratocaster Custom Shop guitar, Buddy Guy alder body and maple neck, Jimi Hendrix Woodstock prototype pickups. For slide guitar playing: vintage 1960 Airline Town and Country guitar, alder body and rosewood neck, original single coil pickup.
Influences : Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Juma Sultan.
1990s Guitar Technique.
One of Gerry Joe Weise's early 1990s innovation for playing slide guitar, is the "double slide" technique. Which consists of two metal tube slides on the left hand, with one on the index finger, and the other on the little finger. By using the little finger slide in normal position on a guitar's neck, then switching to the index finger slide draped over the guitar's neck, this creates two distinct different slide sounds. The result during a guitar solo, is a question and response occurring repeatedly, as if there were two different alternating guitarists. Weise uses the "double slide" technique on two of his compositions, "Dreamtime Shuffle" and "Slidewater Cajun".
2010s Guitar Technique.
The 2016 Tracks "Surfing Coffs Harbour", "Song for Sylvie" and “Blue Concerto for Orchestra (Slide Guitar and Violin), all feature the new guitar technique that Weise calls “glissando overtones”. Making the guitar sound less like a guitar, but more like a flute or violin, due to the uncanny use of sliding harmonics on the guitar strings. The technique consists of touching any harmonic on the guitar string, then gently using a finger slide, to slide the harmonic to different notes on the guitar fretboard, enabling full melodies, full guitar scales and modes to be played in one sweep.
Press Coverage :
2016 Blues Gone Wild album.
Voted N#1 Best Australian Blues Rock Album.
The Australian Blues Rock Magazine Website.
Hailing from Sydney and now well-established in Coffs Harbour, Gerry Joe Weise has released his new opus "Blues Gone Wild", on the Blues Breaking Records label in Chicago. Weise has to be one of the better outstanding Australian guitarists, (he has been voted four times Best Electric Blues Guitarist on the charts)! The opening track "Surfing Coffs Harbour" is a new type of blues that sets the pace for this adventurous album, with extraordinary innovative slide playing (Weise calls it 'glissando overtones'), and at times sounds uncannily like a flute than a guitar. Next are the soulful vocals on "Inside Looking Out" recorded live in the United States, the Eric Burdon song performed by Weise's great band with intertwining guitar work between drums, bass, keys and Juma Sultan's percussion. "Song for Sylvie" is an epic reggae illuminating normal and slide tuned guitars ('glissando overtone' chops here), while trading licks with the powerful brass section featuring trumpets, saxophones and trombones. The 4th track "Crazy Crocodile", has Weise paying tribute to Texas blues as a heavy guitar shuffle with husky vocals, using the Australian crocodile as a metaphor and pun. Stepping up the pace is another USA live track, "Aussie Boogie" performed at breakneck speed where Weise's Strat remains indemne, and a word of merit to Juma Sultan's fiery congas. Slowing things down to "Dreamtime Lullaby" in a Mark Knopfler manner, are dreamy vintage Dobro guitars, with melodies over cinematic didgeridoo lines. Jimi's "Red House" is rendered in a Chicago blues style, with heartfelt singing and lots of guitar soloing (while never discarding the 'feeling' necessary to carry the weight of tradition), much like Hendrix meets Buddy Guy. The rockabilly "Back to Blacktown" (Australian rock riffs galore) hip to the blues bone, beefy vocals and uncanny guitar playing, best sums up this tune. "B Good 2 Me Jam" offers a psychedelic experience that makes ones mind travel to faraway distant lands, through guitar playing in another quantum dimension, the essence of classic rock-blues but with a new twist. Like a fast train, "Uluru Express" will take you across the Nullarbor Plains to central Australia, via slide guitar on a pulsating rhythm section and drone didgeridoos. The beach shores of "Bondi Soul Ride", are a joyful interplay of advancing musical waves, across a playful sea of terra incognita. Upbeat and toe-tapping is "Night Drive", as Weise stretches out on punctuating soloing, displaying Miles Davis technique of playing with spaces and silences, while delivering exciting guitar jabs and melodies. This album is a must-have for everyone's serious blues discotheque.
2016 Blues Gone Wild album. BuzzFeed Magazine article.
New album Blues Gone Wild from ace Australian guitarist, Gerry Joe Weise. With 12 tracks hot from the press, there is more than one could bargain for with outstanding guitar riffs, inventive improvisation and outrageous rocking rhythms. A real opus with a variety of styles all blend into Weise's own blues formula. Tonic at the listening experience, with an overwhelming number of new ideas added to the blues spectrum. On the horizon there is the glimmer of hope of 'what-to-see-next' in next century's blues, a far cry from today's boring repetition of 'playing-it-safe', and let's 'make-it-radio-friendly'. Weise is someone with a promising future in the music business, as he has set up his own Australian production company, and is currently working in the film industry; alongside international touring and taking his music to the far corners across the globe. It is interesting to witness the depth in the recent tracks such as "Surfing Coffs Harbour" and "Song for Sylvie", using new guitar techniques, that only he has the secret. What he calls 'glissando overtones', sounds less like a guitar and more like a flute or violin, due to the uncanny use of sliding harmonics on the guitar strings. Then there is his choice of guitar pedal effects favoring compressors and ring modulators, Weise is definitely at the forefront of a 'brave new world' for the guitar. Other songs in excellence include "Crazy Crocodile", "Aussie Boogie" and "Inside Looking Out", with guitar-playing from the guts and heart, they will swoon you into a joyful trance. Among the advertised twenty-eight musicians we find Juma Sultan on congas and percussion from Jimi Hendrix fame. Let it be known that the recordings were achieved on the three continents, with honorable production and high-fidelity sound, which goes to credit to the Chicago label, Blues Breaking Records.
2016 Blues Gone Wild album liner notes.
World class Australian musician Gerry Joe Weise, is an award-winning blues singer guitarist, with nine albums and two singles. Blues Gone Wild is remarkable for the guitar virtuosity. There are 9 studio songs and three live concert tracks. Weise combines rock, jazz and psychedelic elements to create his own unique style. You will have to listen several times to his sonic landscapes, at times complex, with interweaving sound tapestries. Engaging improvisation between the musicians and rhythms are so very important, giving rise to a different musical experience, than one may be used to with usual blues mainstream, but that will not leave you indifferent. On top of all of that, he is a magical performer, with a great sense of humour and a remarkable way of appealing to an audience. Recounting incidents about his experiences and life on the road, including tours to Russia and other European countries. Weise first left Australia in 1980 when he made a trip to Germany. It was at an exciting jazz club in Frankfurt, run by a local blues fan who became his European manager and recording producer for several years. That tour was a turning point, and since then he has toured most of western and eastern Europe, including Scandinavia. In 1994 he produced his first official record under his own name, Live in Paris. Eight albums later in 2014, he released the 20th anniversary album, Stormy Sydney. This compilation celebrated twenty years as a solo recording artist, which was met with success at 500,000 copies worldwide. Weise has received awards with several self penned songs, which have met with prizes and victories at contests during the 1980s and 1990s, notably in France where he lived for several years. But he is more than just that, he was voted four times Best Electric Blues Guitarist on the charts from 2009 onwards. Weise has toured the United States frequently for the last ten years, where he tours with his own American band. Juma Sultan from the famous Jimi Hendrix' Woodstock band, performs regularly with Weise at festivals on both the American and European continents. Sultan is also featured on two exciting live tracks on Blues Gone Wild. Are you ready to go Wild?
Past Press Coverage :
- Blues Magazine, USA, John Douglas. "Hot rod tone and blues abuse, Gerry Joe Weise has injected new energy into the Blues. His larger than life tones and outstanding solos add to a rich mix of blues rock arrangements."
- TH Magazine, USA, Megan Gloss. "Gerry Joe Weise's coming off of concert dates in the Pacific, the Azores Isles, Scandinavia, New Zealand, throughout Europe and his homeland of Australia. And, though occasionally he wakes up not knowing what country he's in, Weise is on a one-man mission to continue playing the blues."
- 365 Ink Magazine, USA. "Gerry Joe Weise is a must see for any fan of Hendrix-style blues guitar."
- WQAD8 Illinois, USA, Anna Virginia Greene. "Direct from ‘’down under’’, Australia’s top blues guitarist, Gerry Joe Weise makes a special appearance for the Gardenstock Art & Music Festival 2012, which is part of Weise's Midwest Tour with a guitar Master Class at the Woodlawn Art Academy.
- Guitarist Magazine. "The tracks on this album composed by bluesman Gerry Joe Weise have both fire and power."
- Blues Magazine, USA, John Douglas. "21st Century blues rock. The abuse and the raw power create a sonic landscape that spotlights the talents of Gerry Joe Weise. Singer and accomplished songwriter, he has written many tunes, some of which have had radio airplay. To sum things up, he has performed amazing guitar at festivals and concerts around the World."
- Rolling Stone Magazine. "Downright and he has the blues, this man from across the Southern Hemisphere, new exciting guitar on this album from Gerry Joe Weise."
- Est Republicain Newspaper, 9th Chicago Blues Festival, Europe. "Gerry Joe Weise, the support act, inflamed the Palace hall, heating up the spectators with his well played mix of compositions, arrangements and classics. Gerry Joe really knows how to play them blues. A great performance by the rhythm section, and a "bravo" to Gerry Joe Weise's stage performance done with gusto."
- Union Newspaper, 20th San Francisco Blues Festival, Europe. "First on stage was Gerry Joe Weise from Australia and his trio. They 'blistered the blues down' as Gerry Joe produced a quantity of excellent blues licks and solos, played on his Stratocaster along with growling vocals; as the members of the San Francisco Blues Festival looked on with smiling approval."
- 12th Amiens Jazz Festival, Courrier Picard Newspaper, France, Philippe Lacoche. "It wasn't easy to perform after Buddy Guy, but the Australian bluesman, Gerry Joe Weise and his trio came on stage just after midnight, as Gerry Joe strapped on his guitar. His energetic guitar style, produced scorching blues licks, likened to that of Buddy Guy's intensity. Gerry Joe Weise's forte is his honest bluesman approach. The night was hot and sweaty, which measured up well to the expectations of all."
- 30th Jimi Hendrix Experience Commemoration, Voodoo Child Magazine USA, M.Thevenin. "It has all been said before that Gerry Joe Weise pays complete respect to Hendrix via personal interpretations, and that sums up well the originality and musicality he infused into that night's performance. After a short intermission, Noel Redding came out on stage."
- Blues News Magazine, Julie Veraz. "When Gerry Joe Weise arrived in southern France, he called up his old Brit-mate, drummer Keith Boyce from Savoy Brown and Heavy Metal Kids fame. Boyce and bassist Jean-Paul Lopez (ex. Otis Grand) were pounding it out on stage as Gerry Joe Weise played blistering blues licks on psychedelic arrangements. Gerry Joe was inspired that night, and so were the Yardbirds who were preparing for their World Tour."
- Centre Hebdo Newspaper, France, J.M.Peyral. "Gerry Joe Weise strapped on his old 1960 red Silvertone electric guitar and plugged it in, as his drummer and bassist walked on stage. By then the whole concert hall was singing along with the band. Gerry Joe Weise, a virtuoso on the guitar, entertained and played power blues, while their fine song arrangements never left anyone indifferent. "It's just great, it rocks!", called out delighted fans. At 11.00 pm it was time for Gerry Joe Weise to leave the stage for the next trio formation: the Acoustic Blues Summit, with lead vocalist and guitarist Joe Louis Walker, Matt 'Guitar' Murphy (Blues Brothers) on guitar, and Billy Branch on Harmonica."
- Soul Bag, France, Jacques Perin. "Without a doubt, Gerry Joe Weise is an excellent guitarist, with proven skills, feeling and always precise. Gerry Joe Weise is a true bluesman."
- Tagblatt Kolding, Denmark, K.C. "Gerry Joe Weise has the know-how to keep the blues alive while boiling the Kelvin scale in a rock attitude. Damn right he has the essence of the blues at his fingertips."
- Quotidiano Milan, Italy, Paola Ferri. "A vigorously virile concert performed by Gerry Joe Weise and his funk-beat drummer at Antonio's. Non-stop guitar action from this fine musician from down under, who plays blues influenced by hard-rock and jazz."
- Süddeutsche München, Germany. "If you haven't seen Gerry Joe Weise's new act, you certainly have to catch him next at the Biker's Cafe. His recent tour concerts have had a lot of success with rock-blues consumers across Germany."
- Soul Bag, France, Christophe Mourot. "Staying with a big guitar sound is Australia’s Gerry Joe Weise. He has put aside traditional Australian instruments that had given his former album great color, to concentrate more on vocals and guitar."
- Tageszeitung Innsbruck, Austria. "Gerry Joe Weise completely illuminated by the blues, is on a mission to spread the word, or should I say the music. In fact he is touring Germany, Australia, Italy, Spain and Portugal with his power blues. Gerry Joe is known in both circles, that is in traditional and modern fusion blues, where anything goes, which is just what he is committed to."
- Guitare & Basse Magazine, France. "Gerry Joe Weise s'affirmant avec des musiciens comme Tommy Emmanuel, Dave Hole ou Rob Tognoni d'un son: Made in Australia."
- General Anzeiger, Germany, Jörg Musterheim. "Das Fachmagazine Gitarre widmete ihm ein Feature, wies dabaei auf Einflüsse von Hound Dog Taylor, Albert Collins und Muddy Waters hin und belegte sein Spiel mit Prädikaten wie ökonomisch, flexibel und elegant. Das charakterisiert Gerry Joes Musik - eine Melange aus Blues, Boogie und Swing."
- Catalunya Cultura, Spain, Luis Pena. "Un nou valor del Blues. Gerry Joe Weise, Blues exposat amb elegància i moderat intimisme, pero amb tot el shuffle i el swing que fa falta. A tenir molt en compte et virtuosisme del gaiter."
Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Tour Australia,
December 2020, New South Wales.
Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Tour Australia,
November 2020, New South Wales.
Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Tour Australia,
October 2020, New South Wales.
Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Tour Australia,
August September 2020, New South Wales.
Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Tour Australia,
June July 2020, New South Wales.
Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Tour Australia,
June July 2020, New South Wales.
Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Tour Australia,
February 2020, New South Wales, Queensland.
Gerry Joe Weise, Surf Life Saving Club,
7 February, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. |
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Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Tour Australia,
January 2020, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland. |
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Gerry Joe Weise, Australia Day Celebration 2020,
26 January, Lismore Park, NSW, Australia. |
Early References, Magazines, Newspapers, Videos :
- Senatore, Tony. "The Angels - Bio, (view paragraph 12)". The Aussie Bands Music Page. Australia.
- Alchin, Mark (17 June 1977). "The Angels, Bondi Lifesaver, Sydney". Juke magazine. Sydney, Australia (Number 60): 12.
- Gibson, Mark. "Bondi Lifesaver". Australian Music History. Australia. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- Melison, Gil (14 August 1995). "Victoire de Gerry Joe Weise, son blues a l'harmonique tonique a fait la difference". L'Est Republicain (in French). Haute Marne: 2, 3.
- Kreye, Andrian (November 1982). "Ideen ohne Welle, Tour de Force". Munchner Stadtzeitung magazine (in German). Munich, Germany: Arno Hess, Szene Programm Press: 7, 8.
- Konitzer, Michael (January 1983). "Das sind Tour de Force, eine No-Wave-Truppe aus Munchen". Munchener Stadtzeitung magazine (in German). Munich, Germany: Arno Hess, Szene Programm Press: 128.
- Vallat, Arnaud (16 March 1994). "Gerry Joe Weise, l'etoffe du guitar-hero. Depuis huit ans, il a choisit Reims comme cite d'adoption. Portrait du desormais 'legendaire' guitariste et peintre australien". Sortir a Reims (in French). Reims (Number 2): 2 to 4.
- McKinnies, Saul (December 1995). "Blues for Christmas, Bernard Allison and Gerry Joe Weise". Jazz Lines. Voice Magazine, (an American Parisian journal). Paris, France. Volume 17 (Number 9): 5, 6.
- "Deux groups a la nuit du Blues. Gerry Joe Weise and the Blue Flames". La Montagne de Reims. L'Union (in French). Epernay, France (Number 14403): 21. 12 November 1991.
- Hinde, Suellen (30 November 2000). "Gerry Joe Weise, blues brothers". Northern Territory News. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia: 10.
- Bellac, Ginette (9 November 1992). "Chicago Blues Festival. Le blues du bonheur a fait swinguer le Palace". L'Est Republicain, la Haute-Marne (in French) (Saint-Dizier-Troyes ed.). La Haute-Marne: JHM: 4.
- Lacoche, Philippe (24 May 1993). "Les Jeu du Cirque". Picardie. Le Courrier Picard (in French) (15054) (Picardie Matin ed.). Amiens. p. 8.
- Perin, Jacques (Spring 1996). "Gerry Joe Weise Band, Live in Paris". Soul Bag magazine (in French). Clichy, France: C.L.A.R.B. (Number 142): 32.
- admin. "Le Cadran-Omnibus Archives". The Official Jimi Hendrix Site. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- "Jimi Hendrix – The Story Of Life lyrics". www.allthelyrics.com. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- Melison, Gil (14 August 1995). "Victoire de Gerry Joe Weise, son blues a l'harmonique tonique a fait la difference". L'Est Republicain (in French). Haute Marne: 2, 3.
- Elliot, Marc (November 1996). "Gerry Joe Weise, A Letter to Jimi". Guitar Planet Magazine (in French). Paris: Editions Showbizz Press (Number 12): 78.
- Voss, Kenneth (Summer 1996). "Gerry Joe Weise, A Letter to Jimi". Voodoo Child Magazine. Indianapolis, United States (Number 40): 5.
- Thevenin, Martine (Winter 1996–1997). "The Evreux Experience 30 Years Later". Voodoo Child Magazine. Indianapolis, United States (Number 41): 1, 2.
- Moguerou, Jean-Yves (November 1996). "Re-Experience Evreux - 30 Years Later". Jimpress Fifty magazine (November ed.). London, United Kingdom: 54, 55.
- "Hommage a Jimi Hendrix : deux generations en communion". Evreux. Paris Normandie (in French). Paris, France: 22, 23. 17 October 1996.
- A.I. (17 October 1996). "Hendrix commemo l'ombre de Jimi". Eure Inter (in French). Evreux, France: 5.
- Mourot, Christophe (Winter 1998). "Gerry Joe Weise, Bushman Boogie". Soul Bag magazine (in French). Clichy, France: C.L.A.R.B. (Number 153): 75.
- Dallongeville, Patrick (October–November 1999). "Gerry Joe Weise, Bushman Boogie Deluxe". Bluesboarder magazine (in French). Comines, Belgium: Jean-Jacques Vandenbroucke (34): 5.
- Hinde, Suellen (30 November 2000). "Gerry Joe Weise, blues brothers". Northern Territory News. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia: 10.
- "Gerry Joe Weise, Dinah Beach Yacht Club, Frances Bay, Darwin". Top End News. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia: 14. 1 December 2000.
- "Gerry Joe Weise, Outback Tour". Dunmarra. Northern Territory News. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia: 15. 29 March 2001.
- Hinde, Suellen (9 February 2001). "Nabarlek heads south". Northern Territory News. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia: 4.
- Weber, Alain (February 2010). "Le Programme du Festival". Terres de Resistance (in French). Paris, France: Cycle Resistances: 1 to 8.
- "Gerry Joe Weise, Sydney Paris Blues". Disques du Mois. Guitarist Magazine (in French). Paris (Number 182 S): 45. October 2005.
- Mourot, Christophe (December 2005). "Gerry Joe Weise, Sydney Paris Blues". Soul Bag magazine (in French). Clichy, France: C.L.A.R.B. (Number 181): 56.
- "Music and More at Gardenstock". Sauk Valley Newspaper. Rock Falls, Sterling, Illinois, United States: Shaw Media. 160 (178): 1. 18 August 2014.
- "GAZ_08182014". Issuu. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- Sunshine (August 2015). "Festival Program". Sunshine's Awareness Ride and Concert. Kernersville, North Carolina, United States: Smokin Harley-Davidson: 1 to 4.
- "The Gerry Joe Weise Band featuring Juma Sultan". Gerry Joe Weise and Juma Sultan.
- "Australian Blues Rock magazine". Australian Blues Rock magazine.
- "Dreamtime Shuffle, Gerry Joe Weise, TV1 Television, Wellington, New Zealand". Vimeo.
- Vallet, Arnaud (16 March 1994). "Gerry Joe Weise, l'etoffe du guitar-hero. Depuis huit ans, il a choisit Reims comme cite d'adoption. Portrait du desormais "legendaire" guitariste et peintre australien". Sortir a Reims (in French). Reims (2): 2 to 4.
- McKinnies, Saul (December 1995). "Blues for Christmas, Bernard Allison and Gerry Joe Weise". Jazz Lines. Voice Magazine, (an American Parisian journal). Paris, France. Volume 17 (Number 9): 5, 6.
- Rolland, Michel (July 1994). "Programme du festival". Charente. Blues Passions (in French). Cognac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France: 1 to 4.
- Elliot, Marc (November 1996). "Gerry Joe Weise, A Letter to Jimi". Guitare Planete Magazine (in French). Paris: Editions Showbizz Press (12): 78.
- Thevenin, Martine (Winter 1996–1997). "The Evreux Experience 30 Years Later". Voodoo Child Magazine. Indianapolis, United States (Number 41): 1, 2.
- Etchingham, Kathy (12 October 2012). "Jimi Hendrix Experience Evreux anniversary plaque 1996". Kathy Etchingham. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019.
- Tertre, Gérard (July 1996). "Programme du festival". Occitanie. Cahors Blues (in French). Cahors, Lot, France: 4.
- Peyral, J.-M. (21 July 1999). "Du blues jusqu'au bout de la nuit". La Montagne, Centre France (in French) (Cantal ed.): 17.
- "Historique – Jazz & Blues Léognan" (in French).
- "2008 Poster". Santa Maria Blues. 18 June 2013.
- "Santa Maria Blues festival 2019 in Santa Maria, Açores, Portugal". FestivAll.
- Jacoby, Michelle (1 November 2009). "Artfest of Scottsdale". Events. You Are Here magazine. Scottsdale, Arizona, United States: Media Publishers Group (Fall): 21, 23.
- "Toutes les Affiches :: Grossesguitares". www.lesgrossesguitares.com.
- "Blues en V.O. - Festival France 2019 Guide, Programmation, concerts, billets..." www.leguidedesfestivals.com.
- "Blues en VO". Groovin' the City (in French). Saint Leu la foret, Paris, France: Ocean Boulevard (Number 11): 9, 11, 12. Summer 2010.
- Ext. 501. "Gardenstock 2012 a success". www.saukvalley.com.
- "5e festival de blues à Ambialet". ladepeche.fr (in French).
- "Image 148725172 by Ronny Cathoir". PBase.
- "LimburgActueel.be". www.limburg-actueel.be (in Dutch).
- HelloAsso. "Hope & Bridges (Les Ponts de l'Espoir)". HelloAsso.
- "Résultats de recherche pour « juma sultan » – Bel7 Infos" (in French).
- "gerry joe weise, juma sultan | BilletReduc.com". www.billetreduc.com.
- "Music and More at Gardenstock". Sauk Valley Newspaper. Rock Falls, Sterling, Illinois, United States: Shaw Media. 160 (178): 1. 18 August 2014.
- "GAZ_08182014". Issuu.
- "Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival 2014". www.weekendnotes.com.
- "Mitchell Creek Rock 'N' Blues Fest - 2017 Playing Schedule". www.mitchellcreekrocknbluesfest.com.au.
- "Mitchell Creek Rock 'N' Blues Fest - 2018 Playing Schedule". www.mitchellcreekrocknbluesfest.com.au.
- "Seventh and final lineup released on the seventh of 7th". Mary Valley Voice. Mary Valley, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia: Issu. 28 (07): 2. 10 July 2018.
- "2018 Mary Valley Voice July 11 Vol 28 #07". Issuu.
- "Five acts you just can't miss at the 2018 Goodna Jacaranda Festival". Ipswich First. 27 September 2018.
- "Gerry Joe Weise, Sydney Paris Blues". Disques du mois. Guitarist Magazine (in French). Paris (Number 182 S): 45. October 2005.
- Perin, Jacques (Spring 1996). "Gerry Joe Weise Band, Live in Paris". Soul Bag magazine (in French). Clichy, France: C.L.A.R.B. (Number 142): 32.
- Elliot, Marc (November 1996). "Gerry Joe Weise, A Letter to Jimi, (ABM Records)". Albums. Guitare Planete (in French). Paris: Editions Showbizz Press (12): 78.
- "Blues For Gandhi, Gerry Joe Weise, art and music". Vimeo.
- "Blue Concerto for Orchestra (Slide Guitar and Violin), Gerry Joe Weise". Vimeo.
- "Red House, Gerry Joe Weise, 2017 Mitchell Creek Rock 'N' Blues". Vimeo.
- "Song for Sylvie, Gerry Joe Weise". Vimeo.
- "Surfing Coffs Harbour, Gerry Joe Weise". Vimeo.
- "All Blues, Gerry Joe Weise and Juma Sultan, 2014 Gardenstock, United States". Vimeo.
- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Gerry Joe Weise and Juma Sultan, 2014 Gardenstock, United States". Vimeo.
- "Aussie Boogie, Gerry Joe Weise and Juma Sultan, 2014 Gardenstock, United States". Vimeo.
- "Inside-Looking Out, Gerry Joe Weise and Juma Sultan, 2014 Gardenstock, United States". Vimeo.
- "Red House, Gerry Joe Weise, Blues on Broadbeach, Australia". Vimeo.
- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Gerry Joe Weise, Blues on Broadbeach, Australia". Vimeo.
- "All Blues, Gerry Joe Weise, Blues on Broadbeach, Australia". Vimeo.
- "Steamroller, Gerry Joe Weise, Cabaret Sauvage, Paris". Vimeo.
- "Red House, Gerry Joe Weise, Cabaret Sauvage, Paris". Vimeo.
- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Gerry Joe Weise, Cabaret Sauvage, Paris". Vimeo.
- "Funky Train Jam, Gerry Joe Weise, Cabaret Sauvage, Paris". Vimeo.
- "Down Chicago Way, Gerry Joe Weise, Poland". Vimeo.
- "Funky Train, Gerry Joe Weise, Poland". Vimeo.
- "Aussie Boogie, Gerry Joe Weise, Poland". Vimeo.
- "Down Under, Nabarlek and Gerry Joe Weise". Vimeo.
- "Munyon, Nabarlek and Gerry Joe Weise". Vimeo.
- "Jam Session, Nabarlek and Gerry Joe Weise, Blackfire". Vimeo.
Gerry Joe Weise, Blues Rock albums,
Blues Gone Wild, Stormy Sydney,
Blues Down Under, Live and Proud.
Albums and singles available in all stores and all countries. Amazon, Apple Music, iTunes, Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, Google Music, Want It All, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Napster, MediaNet, TouchTunes, PlayNetwork, VerveLife, Gracenote, Shazam, 7Digital, Juke, Slacker, KKBox, Akazoo, Anghami, Spinlet, Neurotic Media, Yandex, Target Music, ClaroMusica, Zvooq, Saavn, 8tracks, Q.Sic, Kuack, Boomplay Music, SimfyAfrica, etc...
Gerry Joe Weise, Live albums,
USA, Australie, France, Netherlands.
