Al is primarily a soloist, who sometimes becomes Nick Gritti ( Nikolas Zsazsagritti ) for corporate events. At the moment he plays with Blue Mountains guitarist about town Steve Mann, who doesn't mind if Al yodels or imitates a muted trumpet now and then.
Influences
Jerry Jeff Walker and David Bromberg, The Byrds, Marion Henderson, Paul Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, Red Shea, Paul Siebel, Lennon and McCartney, Wendy Waldman, Dan Hicks, Chet Atkins, Willis Alan Ramsay, Joni Mitchell, Doug Ashdown, Mike McClellan, my occasional co-writer and superb guitarist Tony Burkys, Nick Drake, Jose Feliciano, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Leo Kottke, CSNY, Loggins and Messina, Jimmy Webb....LATER...Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson, Hoagy Carmichael, Jerome Kern, Fats Waller, Django et Stephan, Geoff Muldaur, Amos Garrett, The Ruttles, The Cheap Suit Serenaders,......AND ALWAYS J.S.Bach, Rameau, Leopold Weiss, Handel, Respighi, Hildegarde of Bingen and lots of others
Also artist/cartoonists William Heath Robinson, Mervyn Peake, Arthur Rackham and Rudolph Bresdin.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some....thank God for the editing function
Sounds Like
All of that put in a blender on high and then strained through coarse cheesecloth.
Al did his first gig in 1970 and hasn't stopped since then. He plays various acoustic guitars, mandolin, baritone ukelele, banjo, harmonica and mouth tromnet. On some occasions he whistles and yodels, but is sensitive to the needs of others in that regard.
First recording from his own stash in 1975, he has had releases on vinyl, cassette and CD. A soloist, band member, session player and sideman, he has seen it from all sides. He writes in many styles and relaxes by drawing cartoons, as you do. Over the years he has played with a who's who of acoustic musicians including Bert Jansch, Tommy Emmanuel, Tom Paxton, Jesse Winchester, Molly O'Brien and Nina Gerber, Rambling Jack Elliott, Dave Swarbrick, Tiny Tim and Ralph McTell. He's played supports for acts as diverse as Leo Kottke and Happy Traum to Ike and Tina Turner and Ry Cooder. Al and his sidekick Dan Johnson came dangerously close to being popular in the late seventies and had to break up. Al then joined a jug and swing band called the Hokum-On-Somble, which also became very popular and had to break up. Since then he has had a fine time with The Other Brothers, Duck Soup and his very close relative Nick Gritti.
He moved to the Upper Blue Mountains in 1989 and has been a fixture there ever since, raising three children with his wife Julia, recording a couple of solo CDs and teaching guitar from his home studio.
In 1995 Al and Bob Charter started an acoustic music festival in Katoomba which is now in its 14th year. It has become a world class annual event and artists queue up to play because of the quality of programming and production. www.bmff.org.au myspace.com/bluemtnsmusicfestival
Hi Al, great guitar pickin' there mate! I would love to catch up with you somewhere down the track. Maybe when I am cruisin' through the beautiful Blue Mountains one of these days I will stop by to say hello 'n' how are ya. Lovely acoustic sounds Al. Cheers, Ray www.rayburtonmusic.com www.myspace.com/rayburtonmusic
Why hello Mr Ward! Not only did you beat someone under 30 onto facebook - you actually inspired the decision to take the leap into the world of technology! Murray Hinder kindly let me know you have a photo from the good ol' days on your my space of a gig we played at the Parakeet, and the kind people at my space informed me I wouldn't be able to 'comment' on the photo unless I joined.
Wonderful gig the other night! Guitar must keep you mentally fit - and I am playing more now! Would love to catch you for a jam when you have a spare second!
Ah, an otherwise boring day at work saved by your myspace. I'm playing 'Hart Crane' and 'Winter in Hope Street' on repeat, while looking at the piccies. Pretty damn good way to spend a morning. The trip looks amazing. Pic of Roman Bubbler Man is a particular fave :)
Hi Al - I have just spent some time in the peace of your company - beautiful songs mate! Looking forward to our gig in Katoomba on the 3rd September. Nigel
Hi Al, I have a vivid memory (I was an impressionable youth at the time..) of you and Dan Johnson singing Tupelo Honey on a late-night ABC music show (the name of which escapes me...) - I think you helped awaken my love of the mandolin. (And I still have a copy of Aweigh With Words among my mountains of vinyl...) Nice to meet you here, and to see that you're still making music! All the best from Vienna, Stephen
Hey Dad! Hollie Smith is playing tomorrow (from 8.30pm) at the Clarendon - check her out here: http://www. myspace. com/holliesmithmusic Hope Julie/Genevieve can make it - tickets are on the way to your place. Call me if you don't receive them and I'll make sure the names are on the door. Nikki
well, it's all a bit hasty really. we just weighed up our favourite bit of frozen bovine ammo (Bertha) and assumed she was the same kilos as Daddles. Gave her a bit of a flying lesson. We crushed a small town in Tassie with ole Berths,(holy cow!) so at least we know he can hop the ditch, though we will aim for Katoomba this time. And no elastic I'm afraid. We got mum to chew up a few sinews and braid em together. Cause we're a feral organic lot.... As for the date? I'll ask the planets when they have a moment.
Online Now!
