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“I have been a fan of Django Reinhardt since I first heard him & Stephane Grapelli with the Hot Club Band from France.  Tom Conway and his band play Django’s music right along side the other great Django bands – they can hold their own…and more!  I know Django would be proud that his music is so elegantly presented on the island of Maui and now for the rest of the world.”

– Willie Nelson

Jazz guitarist Tom Conway has a new album out that showcases his  passionate, amazing guitar playing.  It’s so exciting to listen to.    The album, ‘El Tigre’, is a collection of sixteen original, gypsy jazz inspired songs, all composed by Tom, plus one Willie nelson song,  ’A Peaceful Solution.’  Willie wrote this song with daughter  Amy Nelson, and he sings  and plays guitar with Tom on the song.  It’s the perfect first cut for Tom’s beautiful album.

Playing with Tom are musicians  Marcus Johnson, on bass, David Choy, on Saxaphone, Mark Johnstone, organ, Willie Wainwright, violin, Greg Marsh, drums and percussion, Phil Benoit, rhythm guitar.  Tom Conway’s furious guitar playing is brilliant, and his fellow musicians are as talented and as engaged in the music as Tom is.  They all worked so hard on this album, and you can hear how much fun they are having and how much they love playing  this music together.

In addition to guest star Willie Nelson’s vocals and rhythm guitar on ‘A Peaceful Solution,’  Tom is joined by Maui neighbor Pat Simmons, of the Doobie Brothers, who plays guitar on, ‘The Blue Max’, and Maui musician Gail Swanson, who plays her flute on “Area 51.” 

The first I ever heard of Tom Conway was when Willie Nelson was talking about him to Bill Mack on the radio one day, about a guitarist on Maui who shared his appreciation of Belgian guitarist Django Reinhardt and his all acoustic Quintet of the Hot Club of France.  Willie has often talked about the influence Django Reinhardt has had on his own guitar playing , and he and Tom have both acknowledged the debt guitar players owe Reinhardt for his revolutionary contributions to music and jazz.  Willie told Bill that he and son Lukas once took a guitar lesson from Tom in Hawaii.

But you don’t have to know anything about Reinhardt, the Hot Club of France or gypsy jazz to be blown away by this album.  Tom’s original songs tell beautiful stories, and listeners are taken on a whirlwind journey.   The title of the album’s songs give you a hint about where you’re going: ”Dutch Treat” “Seven Southern Bells, ” “Bayou Beatnik Blues,” and there’s one titled, ‘Area 51,’ named, I think, after the secret military base/UFO alien repository on the Nevada desert.   I told you, this album take you places!  There is so much excitement and energy in this album.  Tom pulls you along and draws you deeper and deeper into this jazzy music.  

El Tigre is a great way to experience the music stylings of Django Reinhardt and acoustic Quintet of the Hot Club of France, an excellent introduction to one of the most original styles of jazz and music, and will leave you wanting more. 

This album is solidly entertaining throughout.  I’ve been playing it for my friends, and everyone goes, ‘Wow, who’s that?.’  Tom plays the guitar so fast, double time; his fingers fly, creating all these sounds. And he makes every note count.  When I first played it, I stared at the stereo speakers, I couldn’t believe all the guitar sounds I was hearing.

Willie  Nelson and Tom and his former band Gypsy Pacific recorded the song ’A Peaceful Solution,’ in Maui, where Willie has a home and was there enjoying some rare time not on tour. (That’s what Willie does on his time off; he records albums or makes movies with friends.)    Then, Willie invited Tom to Austin, where they finished their recording of the song.  (FYI, this is only one of an album’s worth of songs that Willie Nelson recorded with Tom and Gypsy Pacific, and I’m excited to hear that album, whenever it gets released.)  

Tom has been playing and studying guitar since he was nine years old and all that dedication and hard work is reflected in this album.  After high school, he formally studied guitar in Los Angeles,  which involved practicing between six and eight hours a day.  

Tom has launched a new website, and his album, ‘El Tigre’ is available for purchase at his site:  hhtp://www.TomConwayGuitar.com.    The album is also available for purchase and download on itunes.  You can buy Tom’s earlier albums at his website, as well, which I know you will want to do after you hear this album.

Lucky folks who live on Maui can see Tom Conway perform; he plays regularly at clubs around the island, and you can see his schedule at www.TomConwayGuitar.com.

Willie Nelson, Tom Conway  at Charley’s, in Pa’ai.  Tom was invited to be musical director for the cd release concert for Willie’s album, ‘American Classic.’