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Frank Gambale

Frank began playing guitar at age 7 in Canberra, Australia where he was born and raised. He was influenced by the blues playing of Jimi Hendrix , John Mayall / Eric Clapton, and Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia . In his mid-teens he discovered Steely Dan, The Brecker Brothers and Chick Corea, which pointed him in a jazzy direction. In 1982 at 23 he decided to leave his home to study at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in Hollywood. He graduated with the highest honor, Student of the Year and was offered a teaching position which he kept for 4 years. During that time he was playing the local jazz club circuit with his own band and already had his first book "Speed Picking" published. In 1986 he signe a 3 album contract with a small label called Legato and began his recording career.

The same year he was recruited by Jean-luc Ponty to tour. Shortly after that tour, he auditioned for Chick Corea and began a 6 year stint which culminated in 5 albums, a Grammy award and two Grammy Nominations. Chick helped expose Frank to the world, for which he is very grateful, "playing with Chick was like a dream come true" says Frank. That same year Ibanez guitars approached him to endorse their guitar which culminated in a long relationship and spawned the Frank Gambale model guitar which was first on sale worldwide in 1987. They made 4 versions of the guitar, the FGM100, FGM200, FGM300 and FGM400.

In 1987 Frank signed a 3-video deal with DCI / Warner Brothers for instructional videos. In 1988, Frank signed a major label deal with JVC. In 1990 he released "Thunder From Down Under" which sold well all over the world and at one point it was #1 on the Japanese Jazz charts along with all his three Legato releases in the top 10 at the same time.

In 1992, Frank decided it was time to go out there on his own and has been touring with his group ever since. He has toured in many countries with his own band including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and the U.S. He has done countless seminars and master classes worldwide to countries as far away as South Africa and Uruguay.

In 1996 Frank was offered a position of Head of the Guitar Department of a new musical school in the Los Angeles area called the L.A. Music Academy (LAMA). He wrote the core curriculum/ study program for this one year vocational school including Harmony and Theory, Improvisation, Technique and Composition courses. The school is a great success and is an inspirational place for guitarists the world over. He teaches one, sometimes 2 full day a week at the school when he is in town and maintains the guitar department, and chose the teachers.

Recently Frank began his own record label called Wombat Records on which he re-released his early Legato catalog and has just released a new a double live CD called Resident Alien - Live Bootlegs, and a duet CD with Maurizio Colonna, the famous Italian Classical guitarist called Imagery Suite. There are also 2 new releases, the first is a live album recorded in Poland in 1996 where Frank plays lives versions of music from the Passages and Thinking Out Loud period. The other new release is Tony Muschamp More Bass Please. Muschamp is a longtime friend of Gambale and Gambale solos on every song.

Gambale also delivered one album for Steve Vai's new record company called Favored Nations called Coming To Your Senses, one of his strongest albums ever. Frank has also played and contributed songs to seven Vital Information albums and three trio recordings on Mike Varney's Tone Center records. The first released in 1999 called Show Me What You Can Do was well received, and the second called The Light Beyond came out in July 2000 and the third one is simply called GHS 3.

Frank left Ibanez for a deal with Yamaha guitars and a new Frank Gambale model is out designed by FG and Dave Cervantes with some input also from Ken Dapron at YGD ( Yamaha Guitar Design ) in North Hollywood called AES-FG. A second model is being designed currently for an expected release in the summer of 2007.

Frank is also under contract with Carvin and has helped design a preamp called the Tone Navigator which was released at the January 2004 NAMM in Los Angeles. This is an opportunity granted to very few people. There is also the possibility of a signature series acoustic guitar for Carvin.

Frank has also recently completed something he has always wanted to do, namely, a concert DVD. It's called Concert With Class. A 90 min. concert and 90 min. instructional material related to the performance part.

Late in 2002 the celebration of Chick Corea's 60th birthday reunited the Elektric Band after a 10 year hiatus with a sold- out performance to 18,000 at the Hollywood Bowl Aug 28th. The band received a GRAMMY Award and two NOMINATIONS in the late 80's and early 90s. The show kicked off a wave of reunion tours. The band consists of Chick Corea, Frank Gambale, Dave Weckl, John Patitucci and Eric Marienthal. The group recorded a new album called To The Stars and a live DVD at the famous Montreux Jazz Festival.

Mr. G toured Europe in February and March 2004 with his own trio and again with the Chick Corea Elektric Band in the summer of 2004.

Mr. G has recently recorded and released a new acoustic jazz album featuring FG on acoustic guitar, Otmaro Ruiz on piano and alain Caron on acoustic bass. The album is called Natural High and and has received great reviews. The album before this latest release is called Raison D'etre and featured the great Billy Cobham on drums.

Frank has always been considered an innovator on guitar having brought to the world a revolutionary technique called Sweep Picking which is a picking method mostly using brushing or sweeping strokes across string to facilitate incredible speed and effortlessness, but more importantly, a unique style of playing guitar. If this isn't enough of a contribution to the guitar, on the Raison D'etre album Frank presents a revolutionary new tuning called Gambale Tuning, which is a totally different stringing of the instrument to create, as Frank puts it " a way to bring the guitar closer to the liberty that piano players have to play any chord no matter how close the notes are voiced".

In September 2006 Wombat Records will release three new Best Of collections spanning Frank's 20 year recording history. each album will focus seperately on The Acoustic Side, The Smooth Jazz Side and The Rock and Jazz Fusion Sides of Frank's work.

Gambale keeps a busy schedule for sure either writing for an album, book or video, touring or helping design a new guitar model with Yamaha, or giving seminars in Asia, or doing a session for an Italian pop record. Frank loves his work ato say the least." I can't believe I get paid to do what I do, I wouldn't trade it for the world". Show less

The Light Beyond: Frank Gambale, Stuart Hamm and Steve Smith

by Josef Woodard
February 11, 2023

Reports of fusion's death have been greatly exaggerated. The cultural phenomenon, by which jazz and rock made a potent alliance during the '70s, generally slipped out of the public ear and major label consciousness, as jazz as a whole retreated into a more historicist, unplugged attitude. But out of corporate sight only out of corporate mind, and musicians have been courting the fusion muse on indie labels and just beneath the surface of mainstream jazz marketing ever since its heyday. ...

Album Review

Rob Silverman: Drumology Volume 3

Read "Drumology Volume 3" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
November 17, 2022

The beat goes on. Yes, that was a big hit for Sonny & Cher back in 1967. However, here it references the third volume of drummer Rob Silverman's Drumology series. The formula seems to be working, so why not keep pounding them out? Again all proceeds go to the Neil Peart Fund for brain cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. And the core band stays intact, with Silverman being joined by brother Michael Silverman on piano and keyboards, bassist Larry ...

Album Review

Chick Corea: The Montreux Years

Read "The Montreux Years" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
September 26, 2022

If there is anything more ambitious than curating an extensive, comprehensive collection covering the history of an artist, it is collating selected works which vividly outline a particular timeline or theme. Chick Corea's The Montreux Years is a fine example of the latter; this seventh edition in the archive series devoted to the iconic festival not only reflects the late composer and pianist's technical skills, but also his eclectic stylistic tastes. And that is not to mention his fondness for ...

Extended Analysis

The Mothership Returns

by John Kelman
June 19, 2012

When keyboardist Chick Corea announced--following a successful world tour of his reunited 1970s-era fusion juggernaut Return to Forever, which, featuring guitarist Al Di Meola, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White, included a high octane 2008 performance that was one of the best-attended in the Ottawa International Jazz Festival's three-decade history--that he'd be reuniting the earlier incarnation of the group responsible for Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (Polydor, 1973), there was plenty of buzz. He ultimately became the ...

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Album Review

Frank Gambale: Natural Selection

Read "Natural Selection" reviewed by Jack Huntley

by Jack Huntley
February 20, 2010

Frank Gambale, early Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) whiz-kid and longtime guitarist in the Chick Corea Elektric Band, is known for his sweep-picking technique, fretboard virtuosity, and penchant for fusion jazz. But with his 2006 outing, Natural High (Wombat Records), and now 2010's Natural Selection, Gambale has shown off a more straight-ahead style that wonderfully couples his technical artistry with a focused, melodic swing. Aided on Natural Selection by the superb pianist, Otmaro Ruiz, and the equally interesting ...

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Album Review

GHS: The Best of GHS

Read "The Best of GHS" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins

by Woodrow Wilkins
November 10, 2009

GHS is almost like listening to The Police without a human voice. The letters are the initials guitarist Frank Gambale, bassist Stu Hamm, and drummer Steve Smith. GHS is the anti-smooth ensemble from Tone Center Records. Their intent was to represent music fans who wanted more improvisation and more interaction among the players. Gambale spent several years with the Chick Corea Elektric Band as well as Smith's outfit, Vital Information. Hamm and Smith worked together on some of ...

368

Multiple Reviews

Frank Gambale: Parallel Lines

by John Kelman
September 7, 2006

Emerging in the mid-1980s, Australian-born guitarist Frank Gambale rose quickly to the upper end of the fusion food chain. While Scott Henderson was the first guitarist in keyboard legend Chick Corea's Elektric Band, it's Gambale who is best remembered for his work on a string of the band's albums beginning with Light Years (GRP, 1987). And when Corea decided to reform the quintet in the early part of this decade for an album and a couple of tours, it was ...

Recording

Legendary Guitarist Frank Gambale Bares His Soul On An Inspired Collection Of Songs With His Soulmate, Boca

Source: Great Scott P.R.oductions
May 23, 2012

Palm Springs, CA: When something emerges from the soul of an artist, it’s honest, personal and meaningful. It is more than a passion project. For Grammy winning guitar innovator Frank Gambale, “Soulmine” is a soul-realized endeavor that has ruminated in his consciousness for 30 years. The musician jazz giant Chick Corea called “one of the most incredible guitarists on the planet” found the missing piece when he met and married his soulmate, Boca. She provides the sultry vocals and together ...
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Recording

Guitar Virtuoso Frank Gambale Mines His Soul for an Inspirational Collection of Jazzy Adult Pop Vocal Tunes

Source: Great Scott P.R.oductions
March 21, 2012

Guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale mines his soul for an inspirational collection of jazzy adult pop vocal tunes Soulmine featuring vocalist BOCA will be released May 22nd Palm Springs, CA: Respected and recognized as one of musics most innovative guitarists, Grammy winner Frank Gambale returned to his roots for his 20th solo album by delivering an exquisitely crafted vocal collection comprised of original jazzy adult pop songs. Soulmine, which will be released May 22nd on the artists Wombat Records, was written ...
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Recording

Guitarist Frank Gambale & Vocalist BOCA Stir Vibrations with CD Debut on Valentine's Day

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
February 6, 2012

GRAMMY-winning guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale teams up for the first time with his wife and soul mate, singer/songwriter, BOCA, to create and deliver his first all-vocal, crossover Adult Contemporary album, Frank Gambale Soulmine featuring BOCA. Luring listeners to “stir their soul," this release features sexy, strong and evocative vocals, inviting lyrics, R&B jazz-funk stylings, and Frank Gambale's signature sweep-picking prowess and soulful guitar playing. “Music is a channel to move people and has the power to heal. I love vocal ...
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TV / Film

YouTube Now Broadcasting Frank Gambale TV Worldwide

Source: Josh Vittek
October 23, 2011

GRAMMY winning guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale announced today the Frank Gambale TV Channel on YouTube. Flattered by the amount of user generated content already on Youtube, Frank is heeding the call to communicate directly with his fans in a new, more intimate way. With over 30 years of material under his belt, there is a huge archive of footage he is now inspired to share; much of it never seen before including behind the scenes, candid material and instructional content. ...
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Recording

New Double CD From David Herzhaft: "Jazzin' Around" Featuring Howard Levy, Frank Gambale

Source: All About Jazz
November 5, 2007

Jazzin' Around, a New Double CD from David Herzhaft: world jazz music from Coltrane to Paganini played by one of the most original harmonica virtuoso. A 2-CD set featuring Howard Levy, Frank Gambale and many more.

THE MUSIC: Jazzin' Around is a musical journey travelling into the jazz idiom. The first cd has tracks rolling like a live set of modern jazz with funk and fusion accents melting nice and original re-arranged standards with strong compositions. “Summertime" is bouncing and ...
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435

Recording

School of the Arts with T Lavitz, Frank Gambale, Steve Morse, Jerry Goodman, John Patitucci and Dave Weckl

Source: All About Jazz
September 28, 2007

School Of The Arts T Lavitz - Piano Frank Gambale - Acoustic Guitar Steve Morse - Acoustic Guitar Jerry Goodman - Violin John Patitucci - Acoustic and Electric Bass Dave Weckl - Drums and Percussion Cutting-edge compositions, beautiful sinuous melodies, and massive chops make School of the Arts (SOTA) a truly rare confluence of influences and musical styles, pushing jazz and jazz-fusion ...
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Performance / Tour

Frank Gambale & Natural High Trio in Italy, Greece, Hungary & Russia

Source: All About Jazz
March 26, 2007

The Frank Gambale & Natural High Trio (Otmaro Ruiz, Alain Caron) are now on tour in Italy, with forthcoming dates in Greece, Hungary and Russia.

3.26.07 FG and Natural High Trio at Big Mamma, Rome 3.27.07 FG and Natural High Trio at Nuovo Teatro Verdi, Brindisi 3.29.07 FG and Natural High Trio at Athena Club, Athens 3.30.07 FG and Natural High Trio at Athena Club, Athens 3.31.07 FG and Natural High Trio ...
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