Kate Bush,Cat Stevens,Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, Erik Satie, Tom Waits
Lisa Gerrard,Stephen Sondheim,Jerry Goldsmith, Lisa Germano
Sandy Denny and Harold Budd
I'm a singer/songwriter pianist and poet originally from New York although I've temporarily settled in the Midwest where I live on my beloved Starkweather Creek which literally stirs at my back door. I still consider myself a New York based artist, as I still hold very dear my long term affiliations with Mike Fazio of Faithstrange and my drummer Linda Mackley.
It has been said about me most that my intuitive control of the piano is striking, I possess a dynamically ethereal vocal range and that there is a unique depth to my songwriting. Although it is often assumed that I am a classically trained pianist, I am completely self taught, discovering that I could write these little progressions on the piano at age 8. I am honored to have been compared to Kate Bush, Harold Budd and Laura Nyro. My most vivid inspirations come from growing up in a very artistic/theatrical home listening to everything from Show Tunes to Opera to my most influential iconic singer/songwriter Cat Stevens who moved me with his stirring, fluid chord changes and magnificent orchestrations.
Part of the essence of my instinctive emotionally visceral theatrical style may be attributed to my Gypsy lineage. Perhaps that's another reason I started to play the concertina recently. I don't consider myself a story teller, but rather more of a revelatory and referential songwriter. I was discovered by international label Kalinkaland Records and released Island worldwide in July 2005. The album is being distributed in the US by Sam Rosenthal's Projekt Records.
"Island" also features the incredible work of avant-garde cellist Matt Turner.
Being particularly prolific these days, I am in the process of developing another album through my own Ephemera called "Down The Rabbit Hole". This album will be a collection of my first never before heard songs, written between 1990-92, exactly as I sat and played them from their inception in my boxer shorts, drinking coffee at my piano at 3am, cats walking about the house, often on or across the piano keys and me...finally tapping into the identity that was trembling below the surface. It was the time of my pomo epiphany, when I discovered my true artist within
And I am currently in the studio working on pulling together a collection of songs that will culminate into an album called "Hunting Down The Ceremony". A gathering up of many never before heard tracks, a few new things and songs that have been scattered to the winds on either compilations or are parts of film soundtracks.
Review Selections-
Organ Magazine~review excerpt Fools and Orphans~
Fools and Orphans is a beautiful album, as fine as the finest Abyssinian – go explore and lose yourself in it, go and treat yourself. She's from New York, she's like that person you find singing in secret in an old dusty theatre when she thinks no one is listening and this is why we do this Organ thing, this sets things of fire and makes me feel... this is a wonderful album" -
Mick Mercer review excerpt~ The Last Drive In "Hearing something of a modern classical bent twisted into arresting, imaginative shapes is a fascinating experience." "so this is no barren exercise, but a starkly ethereal one."
Ninthspace review excerpts of Fools and Orphans~
"Jo enthralls me with her unusual delivery of language, compressing or mutating phrases to track against the music, creating its own instrument"
"Fools and Orphans draws away from traditional arrangements to let the songs breathe, and in doing so allows Jo to continue distinguishing herself from the current ’..and piano' crowd"
NinthSpace review~ The Last Drive In –"using the piano as a centerpiece for such evocative ambience results in something rather beautiful".
Review of Lightwaves by Mick Mercer
"... leaving Jo Gabriel to cavort in happy self-indulgence through ‘Island’, providing the sort of rising organic sweeping pop Kate bush should have been doing on her farcical ‘comeback'"
NinthSpace review of "Island"- Jo takes the indulgences of This Mortal Coil and weaves them inside traditional and otherworldly piano pieces, accompanied by strings, fretless bass, guitar, her sometimes unusual vocals and Linda Mackley’s perfectly balanced percussion. Whilst the results are obviously off-centre, they remain deliciously melodic.
Orkus Magazine -review by Doreen Krase
“Jo Gabriel is a woman full of contrasts: "tough and strong" her appearance seems "so delicate and sensitive" both are true of her essence and the "visual impact" of her new album Island”
“Jo's voice is the strongest instrument, which she uses in a manner actually like the voice of the universe. But it is a universal language that Jo Gabriel uses to perfection and which dominates Island
Island is "By far one of the most beautiful albums of the year".
“New York native Jo Gabriel produces dark, moody and mystical songs pulsating with brilliant harmonies and full of rough edges. For fans of romantic wave-pop, paired with piano - "Island" reminds of 4AD’s This Mortal Coil with its innate sense of strength and warmth.” (Darklight Nocturnal Entertainment review of Island)
“It is first Jo’s voice that drives shivers through you.” “She’s like the musical miracle of Kate Bush, or Tori Amos”. “Her piano is dreamy and opulent and always in harmony.” ’A touch of Romantic Dark Wave that strokes the soul”. (Amboss Magazine review of Island)
Watch out for Kalinkaland's official release Fall/Winter 2008
Jo is contributing 2 songs ("I am Lovely" and "If Not") to Steve Balderson's new film "Watch Out"
Jo recently contributed a stark piano score "Longer" for the documentary film CUT:Teens and Self Injury by film maker/musician Wendy Schneider. The film features Shirley Manson of Garbage. visit www.cutthemovie.com
Antonio Hoyos will be joining us on the 16th of June, appearing as "The Great Antoine!"
We are delighted that this great comedic performer can join our line-up.
The Pop Haydn Post-Modern Medicine Show will be appearing at The Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood! One show at 8:00 PM.
Pop will be joined by Professor Dave Bourne and the Medicine Show Band, Rob Zabrecky, Sophie Evans, Antonio Hoyos, Phil Van Tee and Pop's Candy Girls for a wonderful show of Old Time Music, magic, comedy and variety.
It'll make you feel better!
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
19th Century Attire Welcome!
You can buy tickets at LaughFactory.com or call: 323-6561336 ext 1.
For more information and video go to my Myspace Profile or:
hey polly ann burnadette dandelion milly adele glauster-stein-bergenheimer.. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU??? hey .. can you give me jo's info.. i am tryin to reach her..
LOVE YA!! i wanna come to MADISON this summer.. can we record, or play out?? LET ME KNOW I AM SERIOUS!!!
It's okay, no need to apologize. :) I know you're busy! I hope you're feeling okay!
Excuse the name change, I think I'm too obsessed with my favorite show. xD
Princess is doing okay. I've been taking her for walks again lately - she honestly didn't like them much before, so I didn't for awhile. Now she doesn't mind them!
How is Daisy? Are you healed over from the surgery? How is summer shaping up for you so far?
Hi Jo Gabriel, thanks for accepting my friend request. I appreciate the opportunity to introduce You to the music of ALIEN SKIN.
If you enjoy the MySpace song previews, you can listen to DON’T OPEN TILL DOOMSDAY by visiting my band-website (below) … AND while you’re there, help yourself to the selection of free downloads!
Thanks for adding me!! I was looking for some cool people to connect with. There are so many great people on here and it’s my pleasure to have you as a friend on my page. Musically, Jay
Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort. ~John Lancaster Spalding
And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see -- or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read. ~Alice Walker
Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty