SIGGI SCHWARZ - New Love Songs (2012)

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South German guitarist SIGGI SCHWARZ is among the most respected rock guitarists in Europe. Born in 1958, he played guitar in various bands and now works as producer / songwriter / arranger and has his own band under his moniker, continuously touring and recording.
Now Swartz is releasing "New Love Songs", including 14 tracks of original material.

Siggi is mostly known for his 2007 album recorded with Michael Schenker and his last year's own tribute to Gary Moore. Some well known names have played in his past records such as Steve Lukather, Neil Murray or Chris Thompson to name a few.
However, Siggi is relatively unknown for major audiences, even more outside Europe.
On "New Love Songs", Swartz, unlike on most of his previous albums where the guitar solos were the focus, has put special emphasis on the vocals and the song-format.

Indeed, the central theme in these songs is 'love' but mainly lyrically, this isn't a ballads album at all. We have a couple, the rest are up/mid tempo tunes ranging from Classic Rock to Melodic Rock peppered with diverse sounds and stylings.
To mention some; "Best Thing" is a melodious rocker with a breezy feeling, "Rhythm Of Life" has a recent Santana commercial approach and "New Love" is filled with nice acoustics and fine harmony vocals.
"Raining in My Heart" is a bluesy number very Gary Moore influenced and "I Cant't Live Without You" has a cool slide guitar work.
"Love Of My Life" has a melodic rock format with strong electrics in its core, while "The One" resembles more classic sounds of the eighties.


"New Love Songs" is basically oriented to timeless Classic Rock watering in other classy related styles as well.
Siggi Schwartz is a complete and skillful six-string player, owner of an exceptional tone. The soulful voice of singer Ralf Damrath fits perfectly to the character of these compositions, very well accompanied by the rest of Siggi's tight band.
Perhaps the album is too long for his own sake, but the songs are short and entertaining individually, helped for a good production for this kind of ageless material.
Clearly and album made with a lot of heart and 'love' for the classic, good sounds. Only released in Germany.
Good Stuff.

You've seen it first here, at zerodayrockz


01 - Best Thing
02 - Rhythm Of Life
03 - New Love
04 - Raining in My Heart
05 - I Cant't Live Without You
06 - Love Of My Life
07 - Love Is A Beautiful Thing
08 - Loving Every Minute
09 - Still In Love With You
10 - Little Dreamer
11 - I Close My Eyes
12 - A River Like You
13 - The One
14 - Sacrifice Of Love


Siggi Schwartz: Guitars
Ralf Damrath: Lead & Backing Vocals
Geoff Whitehorn (Roger Chapman, Procol Harum): Guitars
Romi Schickle (Wolfff): Keyboards
Raoul Walton (Westernhagen, Roachford): Bass
Bodo Schopf (MSG, Gotthard, The Sweet, Eloy): Drums






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www.sonymusic.de/Siggi-Schwarz/New-Love-Songs/P/2693929

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SIGGI SCHWARZ & Friends - Still Got The Blues [A Tribute To Gary Moore] (2011)

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On 6th February this year, guitar legend Gary Moore died unexpectedly.
Now, South German guitarist Siggi Schwarz is releasing a tribute album which covers the entire spectrum of his work. As Siggi states in the liner notes, Gary Moore was (as with countless other 6-string enthusiasts) his biggest influence and who inspired him to play guitar.

Siggi Schwarz is among the most respected rock guitarists in his country, but he's far less known outside Germany.
Born in 1958, he played guitar in various bands and now works as producer / songwriter / arranger and has his own band under his moniker, touring Europe and recording.
The man also got excellent contacts in the international music business, so it is no wonder why he has brought to this project some really famous musicians.
On bass is Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath) who was part of Colosseum II with Gary and has also recorded on his album 'Victims Of The Future' (1983).
Geoff Whitehorn (Roger Chapman, Procol Harum, Paul Rodgers Band) plays add. guitar,
on drums is Bodo Schopf (Eloy) and Lee Mayall (John Mayall's nephew) on the saxophone.
Even on a guest solo we hear the master Steve Lukather (Toto).

These studio covers are really well arranged and played, benefited by a stupendous production.
Although the heavy-blues overtones dominates this recording, the hard rock is present as well as in the classic "Over The Hills And Far Away", where at the end is mixed with a children's choir giving to this version an interesting effect.
Very well arranged is the Thin Lizzy number "Don't Believe A Word". Siggi's take is oriented as how Gary Moore used to play this song live.
Other highlights are the beautiful renditions to "Over the Hills And Far Away", "Empty Rooms" and "Parisienne Walkways" where Lukather shines as usual.


Tribute albums had become popular lately, not always artistically successful due to the countless personnel involved.
The good about this one is that Siggi Schwarz & Friends really sounds and feels like a real, compact band. All the musicians involved are top players, giving soul and emotion to these songs. A special note goes to singer Tom Croel, who has done an incredibly good job on this CD.
"Still Got The Blues - A Tribute To Gary Moore" was recorded with a lot of heart and dedication, and technically (production and mix) is impeccable.
Gary Moore would have enjoyed this CD.
Good one.






Tom Croel - Vocals
Siggi Schwarz - Guitars
Geoff Whitehorn - Guitars
Neil Murray - Bass
Romi Schickle - Keyboards
Bodo Schopf - Drums

Steve Lukather - Guitar solo on 6
Lee Mayall - Saxophones
Tamas Füzesi - Additional Violins
Silvia Boenke - Backing vocals
Kids Of E Primary School Ulm - Choir on 10
Philharmonic Orchestra of the City of Ulm - Strings





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www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8618369

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