Tim Gartland IS Making a Scene
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Making A Scene Presents an Interview with Tim Gartland!
Seeing Muddy Waters in concert in his home state of Ohio at age 14 proved to be a life changing experience that would inspire Tim Gartland to pick up the harmonica and begin his musical journey. He soon began playing in bands and learning the craft of writing and playing roots/blues music
Upon moving to Chicago after graduating college, Tim immersed himself in the Chicago roots/blues scene. He studied with famed harmonica player, Jerry Portnoy (Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton) and played with such greats as Bo Diddley, Carey Bell, Big Jack Johnson and Pinetop Perkins. He has been deeply influenced by the “greats” –Little Walter for his harp playing, Ray Charles for his interpretation of a song, Willie Dixon for his songwriting.
As Tim gained a more in-depth knowledge of songwriting, he came to understand that if roots/blues music was going to stay relevant in today’s world, the songs had to tackle contemporary subjects. “The blues is essentially a genre in which the singer is having a cathartic experience. If you write about themes that are meaningful to your experience, you will create something new.” says Gartland.
After moving to Boston in 1989, Tim became a key player in the Boston blues circuit. In 1998, he was a finalist in the Boston Blues Challenge Competition. He made frequent appearances at regional and national blues festivals as well as prestigious guest artist appearances with the top tier musicians in this talent rich area.
Tim embarked on his solo recording career with the release of his first album on in 2011 entitled, “Looking Into the Sun”. The Boston Globe compared Gartland’s “veteran vocals and precision harp work” to the style of “the great bluesman Charles Musselwhite”. Also in 2011, Tim became a published author after writing an instructional book for the harmonica entitled, “The Talking Harmonica”.
He released his second album in 2014 “Million Stars” to critical acclaim. “The songs are topical and meaningful lyrically, while flowing well musically. What is not to like here? Nothing!”- Blues Blast Magazine.
Tim Gartland relocated to Nashville,TN in 2015. He became an active member of the Nashville Songwriters Association and was honored to be named to their “ones to watch list”. He is now actively playing, recording and writing in “Music City”. In 2017 he was invited to perform at the prestigious “Harmonica Blues Summit” in Nashville.
2017’s “If You Want A Good Woman”was Tim’s third album. It reached #1 on the blues charts on Air Play Direct. Again, the critics were impressed.“Tim Gartland brings discipline and an understated verve to his harmonica work…that well-deep singing voice [is] a combination of Charlie Musselwhite, Leon Russell and Willie Dixon…as a songwriter, he has a good sense of melody and provides intelligent lyrics…” (Frank-John Hadley/DownBeat)
Tim Gartland and Taste Good Music is proud to announce the release his fourth solo album, “Satisfied” on April 12, 2019. The ten original songs on the album, blending blues/soul/roots rock and country, were all written or co-written by Tim Gartland. They were recorded in just two days to capture the intimate, immediate and natural sound of a group of great musicians creating music in a terrific sounding live room.
