Jim Campilongo And The 10 Gallon Cats

Amazon.com
People tend to posit jazz and country at opposite ends of the spectrum, but, of course, there's long been a junction where the two schools mix it up. Call the resulting fracas western swing or cowboy jazz, it's maintained loyal adherents since Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys first rode the range. Jim Campilongo & the 10 Gallon Cats represent the state of the art in the genre. Campilongo an accomplished, innovative guitarist, penned 11 instrumentals for the group's self-titled debut. He and his sidemen (steel guitarist Joe Goldmark, bassist Chris Kee, and drummer Ken Owen) keep it clean, sweet, and snappy throughout. Only "Bully Cat," an intoxicatingly raunchy seven-minute roll in the mire, stretches out. The rest of the material clocks in at an average of three minutes. Nary a word is sung, but the tunes are so varied and lively that vocals would've spoiled the mood. --Steven Stolder

SF Weekly, San Francisco
Campilongo channels the versatility of Chet Atkins and the tone and volume of Roy Buchanan into guitar lines that speak.

Jim Campilongo And The 10 Gallon Cats

Tracks:

Pat And Patsy
Sergio Versus The Moth
Like Butter
Twister
Dagger Through My Heart
Tic Toc
How's It Goin'? Not Much
Rooted Like A Tree
Mozart Woulda Played A Tele
Hamster Wheel
Tiramisu
Folsom Prison Blues

Amazon.com

Jim Campilongo has patiently amassed a loyal following in San Francisco by performing regularly in clubs and now and then putting a tasty assortment of instrumentals together on an album. Heavy, his third collection with his "cowboy jazz" ensemble the 10 Gallon Cats, is a welcome addition to the guitar virtuoso's uniformly appealing oeuvre. The follow-up to the ballad-laden Table for One (credited to the Jim Campilongo Band, which is the same core group with steel guitarist Joe Goldmark stepping aside in favor of accordionist/Hammond B3 player Rob Burger) is aptly named: with the exception of the pensive "Tiramisu," Heavy consists of gutsy, aggressive workouts built around the heated tradeoff solos between Telecaster master Campilongo and Goldmark. Not afraid to mix yucks in with their licks (is that "Aqualung"'s signature riff at the beginning of "Pat and Patsy"?), Campilongo and company have come up with another winning instrumental set that should expand his following. --Steven Stolder

Album Description

The opening strains of the newest work by The City's own guitar god are only faintly heard in the background: what sounds like the ominous opening of Jethro Tull's "Aqualung". But it's only a momentary flash, an omen, if you will, before Campilongo plunges headlong into his most satisfying, and yes, heaviest, album yet.

The hard-working picker, who has made a home of the club-within-a-club upstairs at the Paradise, has made another album of dazzling Western swing-meets-jazz-meets blues-meets-country, which has become his patented trademark. I love the Spaghetti Western flavor of "Sergio vs. the Moth", the sweet melancholy of "Tiramisu" and the honky-tonk of "Tic Toc," which makes you want to put on your cowboy boots and line dance. Campilongo stretched a bit on this one, and came up with a winner. - Jane Ganahl, SF EXAMINER

Customer Reviews:

Heavy - an amalgam of all that's brilliant in sound........2001-12-01

San Francisco guitar legend Jim Campilongo has turned up to eleven with this raucous instrumental. Retaining all the intensity and guitar wizardry he's known for, Heavy is a heavyweight in musicianship.

Rooted in a blend of classic country, jazz and whatever else he invents, Jim and his Telecaster ride way past the cowboy sunset and into their own musical genre. The emotional, soulful and often tender guitar of Campilongo surrounds intoxicating compositions that twist and turn through a myriad of styles. His tone is clean then gritty, jazzy then twangy. In 'How's It Goin'? Not Much' he and Joe Goldmark's slinky pedal steel shift between tempos in a swinging musical dialogue that is simply amazing. The arrangements and playing of Jim and the 10 Gallon Cats are beyond compare.

This is an outstanding record from one of the finest guitar players on the planet. Intelligent, intense and fun, Heavy weaves a unique tapestry of melody that will captivate any music aficionado. Call it what you will, Country - Americana - Jazz - Rock or Blues, it's Heavy.

A great cd!!.......2001-11-26

I own all of Campilongo's cd's and enjoy them all but my personal favorite is "Heavy". It cover's the wide gamut of songwriting skills Campilongo has demonstated over the last decade and it's why this cd has remained in "steady rotatation" since I first heard it. Campilongo has a great sense of humor on "Pat and Patsy" and "Dagger through my Heart" but this record also includes the sentimental darkness that is so present on "Table for One". "Like Butter" is worth the price of admission with it's gut wrenching solo over a "Jon Bonham" drum groove. Campilongo's cd's are about songs that convey a mood more then guitar music for guitar players.A great cd!!

A great cd!!.......2001-11-26

Average customer rating:

THESE ARE SOME KILLER CATS!
Back to the future with a stew of Tele and Pedal Steel

Jim Campilongo And The 10 Gallon Cats
Jim Campilongo & the 10 Gallon Cats
Manufacturer: Blue Hen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Heavy
The Little Willies
Heaven Is Creepy
American Hips
Loose

ASIN: B0000009DM
Release Date: 1996-01-29

Tracks:

Splitsville
Billy's Bird
Snakestretcher
Joe Camel
Night In Serramonte
Big Bill
Twangin'
Swingin' With The Cats
Blue Hen
Bully Cat

Amazon.com

People tend to posit jazz and country at opposite ends of the spectrum, but, of course, there's long been a junction where the two schools mix it up. Call the resulting fracas western swing or cowboy jazz, it's maintained loyal adherents since Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys first rode the range. Jim Campilongo & the 10 Gallon Cats represent the state of the art in the genre. Campilongo an accomplished, innovative guitarist, penned 11 instrumentals for the group's self-titled debut. He and his sidemen (steel guitarist Joe Goldmark, bassist Chris Kee, and drummer Ken Owen) keep it clean, sweet, and snappy throughout. Only "Bully Cat," an intoxicatingly raunchy seven-minute roll in the mire, stretches out. The rest of the material clocks in at an average of three minutes. Nary a word is sung, but the tunes are so varied and lively that vocals would've spoiled the mood. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

THESE ARE SOME KILLER CATS!.......2001-02-04

If you are any kind of fan of instrumental music. This album is a must have. This album is simply incredible. The Cats are one of the most innovative bands I've heard since the Hellecasters. These guys play a kind of music I can only describe as a hybrid of jazz and western swing, with elements of rock and blues thrown in for good measure. Combine that with some seriously talented musicians who love to please, and your in for some great entertainment. Joe Goldmark plays steel guitar here. If you want to hear just how good this guy is, just listen to the wild opener "Splitsville". He goes absolutely wild here, like a steel guitar player on speed, whose watched too many Saturday morning cartoons of the Roadrunner. He continues this theme on "Billy's Bird", with some jazz overtones thrown in. Really unique. Then on the next song, Jim Camilongo takes over and slows things down with "Snakestretcher", which is obviously a nod to the late great guitar player Roy Buchanan. Some of the most beautiful steel guitar playing is heard in the middle of this song. The Cats also play slow and serious on "Twangin", which sounds like a cross between Duane Eddy and Link Wray. The most beautiful song on here is "Night In Serramonte", which has a slow meandering steel guitar line that would fit right in around a campfire at night on the western plains. The rest of this album swings hard with songs like "Joe Camel" and "Big Bill". There's not a dull moment to be found on here. The album closes with the Jim Campilongo showcase "Bully Cat", where he really displays his guitar prowess. And if that's not enough, there is a killer hidden track after this song called "Ping Pong". If it's full tilt, no holes barred instrumental music your lookin' for, look no further. I've collected a lot of instrumental stuff over the years, but I've never heard anything like this. It's simply one of the best instrumental albums ever made. If your lucky enough to come across this little jewel, I highly recommend getting it. You won't be sorry.

Back to the future with a stew of Tele and Pedal Steel.......1998-12-24

This CD's cool. A touch of country, Hellecasters and Hawaii with taste. Neato! Fun! Very different. At times a bit dark. Loose is good too. Table for One is virtually without the pedal steel. It's a good album, very different and laid back, but can't touch the first two. Aptly titled.

Average customer rating:

THIS is how to play the Telecaster!
Loose is Great !
Excellent
WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT
Harlem Nocturne and more...

Loose
Jim Campilongo & the 10 Gallon Cats
Manufacturer: Blue Hen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Heavy
Jim Campilongo And The 10 Gallon Cats
American Hips
Table For One
Heaven Is Creepy

ASIN: B0000009DL
Release Date: 1997-04-07

Tracks:

Bustin' Up
Harlem Nocturne
Botro The Robot
Loose
Fiesta
Pee Wee's Big Adventure
The Girl With Red Eyes
Alien Autopsy
Mr. Sandman
Pluto
Above Paradise

Customer Reviews:

THIS is how to play the Telecaster!.......2005-03-07

Jim Campilongo is the whole package: His approach to the Fender Telecaster involves incredible facility on the fretboard, a tone that manages to encompass the trademark Tele twang and a thick metallic growl all in one, a great melodic sense, and a good sense of humor. He plays a lot of notes, but his articulation is so good that you don't mind. The only drawback is that the Ten Gallon Cats, while excellent players, have a certain sameness of sound. Don't get me wrong--it's very enjoyable music, but I don't think I could listen to a whole lot of it at one sitting without wanting a change of pace.

Loose is Great !.......2004-02-01

I am a Tele Player and I was lucky enough to see Campilongo play a dozen times at the Paradise Lounge while Jim was still living in SF. After seeing these shows I' wasconvinced he is one of the all-time best Tele players . Loose captures that Paradise Lounge era ( mid to late 90's?) very successfully .Campilongo is one of the true innovative stylist's playing electric guitar today..The important aspect of Jim's playing is his soulfulness and composition as a writer and improviser. That seperates him from the wolf-pack. The whole band is a real treat and Goldman is amazing on this one! This CD is great .

Excellent.......2003-11-25

I don't know why another reviewer felt compelled to rank this relative to the Hellecasters. It isn't as if you have to choose between the Hellecasters and Campignola, unless you are headed to a desert island with room for only 1 cd. If you aren't, and you like the Hellecasters, you shouldn't deprive yourself of Campignola. I think the soloing here is exquisite; Campignolo is a master of nuance, tone, taste, and humor. Campignolo is at times reminscent of other guitarists -- Jimmy Bryant, Danny Gatton, Scotty Anderson, Roy Buchanan, and Bill Frisell -- but he has his own distinct style (especially with respect to composition), and I for one think my collection is vastly richer for having discovered his work.

WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT.......2003-04-30

After the comparisons to the HELLECASTERS I could hardly wait to get my hands on this CD. To compare JIM to the HELLECASTERS is an insult to the HELLECASTERS. If you can buy DANNY GATTON, THE HELLECASTERS, SCOTTY ANDERSON or JOHNNY A, than why would you buy this??? At his best JIM sounds like a two fingered DANNY GATTON on valium. He doesn't have the licks, style or class of the abovementioned guitarists. His playing always sounds limited by a severe lack of technique. His tone is nothing special either and none of his compositions would make it onto either a GATTON ,JOHNNY A or HELLECASTER CD. His solos for the most part rarely lift above noodling of the worst order.He doesn't even noodle very well. My better half screams in protest from the other room "TAKE THAT NOISE OFF". Normally I'd argue with her but here her assessment is spot on, THIS IS NOISE.

Harlem Nocturne and more..........2001-12-21

I think this Sophmore release is stronger then the 1st Cat's release because of it's sonic improvements and great original material."Loose" for the most part sounds like a Cat's live show ( hence the title ). Harlem Nocturne is an absolute must hear that blows the roof off any version I've ever heard ( including Gatton's ) . Campilongo's songwriting seems more mature and he seems to be rattling the cage of Country confines pretty successfully . The title track "Loose" sounds like and Ellington cover and "Above Paradise" sounds like a "Santo and Johny " B-side. "Botro the Robot" sounds like ....well , pure Campilongo and Cat's ! The Les Paul tribute on "Mr Sandman" is one of my favorite guitar solo's of all time and I've used it as a "Campilongo selling track" to people who haven't heard Jim yet. They become Campilongo converts everytime ! If you liked the first cd I think you'll love "Loose".

Music Album:

Music Album