JIM SCHWALL: Getting Old

Jim Schwall

Getting Old

© 2007 Jim Schwall (606041269620)

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A singer/songwriter with a strong working knowledge of several American traditional music genres, especially country blues.

notes

Jim Schwall, Guitar, Mandolin, singer-songwriter - is the co-leader of the Siegel-Schwall Band, "one of the best acts in America", - Billboard Magazine.

Jim Schwall's 2007 CD "Getting Old" features Jim performing solo, singing and playing acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars, recorded live in venues in or near Madison WI. There is one traditional song, one song of unknown origin and three songs by other songwriters: Bill Morrissey, David Olney and Ed Haynes. The rest of the 14 tracks are Jim's originals. About half the tunes are in some of the styles of traditional blues.

After playing drums and accordion in elementary school, Jim Schwall found the guitar in high school and has never put it down for long. In college, Jim met piano/harmonica player Corky Siegel and formed the Siegel-Schwall Band. Siegel-Schwall toured full-time for about ten years, releasing over a dozen albums on Vanguard and Wooden Nickel Records. Siegel-Schwall starting playing occasional reunion gigs in the late '80's and currently have two recent CD's in the Alligator Records catalog.

For well over 40 years, Jim has also played with various other bands, releasing recordings with many of these, including two versions of the Jim Schwall Band. He has also played solo acoustic gigs for over 40 years but, aside from acetates cut in high school, never made a solo acoustic recording until 2007's "Getting Old," on Madison WI's Uvulittle Records. Currently he lives in Madison, is a member of SoDangYang along with singer/songwriter Marques Bovre, plays solo, works in visual arts, and is recently retired from social service work.

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  • Jim Schwall's newest masterpiece!!
    author: Bill Haines

    Though Jim Schwall's been a well known guitar virtuoso for 45 years now, or thereabouts, something you don't get to hear Jim do very often is play the 12 string guitar. This new CD is full of his masterful acoustic slide and fretwork, on both 6 and 12 string, performed solo and in front of a live audience. Not strictly blues, it's also full of folk and storytellin' songs, both funny and baleful. The poignant, haunting ballad "Walking On Air", a somber tune lamenting the all-too-short but well lived life of one of his best friends is sung from the heart and you can sense the depth of his feeling of loss. You'll get a new version of "Easy Rider", a tune he used to do with his other outfit, The Siegel-Schwall Band. Another fun one, "Is That All Right" is a hilarious tune about a guy who just wants a drink and a hottie to go home with and isn't particularly successful, though he gets some measure of satisfaction in the end. "(Sometimes You Just Have To) Take What You Can Get" is one of those tunes that you find yourself shaking your head in agreement to. Throughout his witty and well sung lyrics runs a thread of experience and wisdom that can only be gained by a life spent singing and playing in honky tonks, bars and watering holes all over the country and the world, interacting on stage and off with all kinds of people. Getting old? Sure, Jim Schwall may be getting older, (aren't we all?) but damn if he ain't gettin' better in the bargain!! As for me, hell, I don't mind, as long as I have his music to get old with. "Getting Old" is the latest addition to the soundtrack of my life. Keep 'em comin' Jim!!!

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