Bird Flew By...stop & listen first.
http://grooveshark.com/profile/Scott+Appel/22612401
SCOTT APPEL
...though of course, we here cannot help but honor Scott Appel for his fine covers of Nick...
Listen & read on...Hazey Jane cover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORPcCnh_FGI
Spellbound years ago by the haunting images found in the music of English folksinger Nick Drake, Scott Appel began a correspondence with the late artist's parents, Rodney and Molly Drake. Their faith in Appel's discreetness and their awareness of his empathy with Drake's music paid off handsomely for the New Jersey-based guitarist, as he was one of the few musicians given access to Drake's mythical and fiercely protected private recordings. Since then, Appel has shouldered the Drake legend more comfortably than any other singer, songwriter, or guitarist.
Appel first started playing guitar at the age of eight. His early influences included the English folkies Davy Graham and Bert Jansch and in 1972, he had mastered the instrument enough to gain entrance into Boston's famed Berklee School of Music. After only a year, Appel realized he knew more than his instructors did, so he quit. Through the rest of the '70s, he earned his living teaching guitar, playing jazz and folk in coffeehouses, bars, and supper clubs, and even playing Led Zeppelin-influenced heavy metal in cover bands. By the '80s, however, he had returned to the acoustic folk that he loved best, recording his first album, Glassfinger, in 1985. Glassfinger showcased Appel's ability on bottleneck slide with the emphasis on Irish and English folk music as opposed to American blues.
Nine of Swords, Appel's second release, was the fruit of his intensive study of the melancholic sound and unorthodox guitar tunings of Nick Drake. The record is a better tribute to Drake than any written eulogy, offering covers of several early Drake songs never released (legitimately), as well as "Place to Be" from Drake's stark masterpiece Pink Moon. (the CD reissue on Schoolkids includes even more Drake compositions). Parhelion, the follow-up release, further explores the Drake catalog with stunning results. Appel's own compositions complement rather than conflict with the Drake covers. An apt description of his songs might be "melancholic new age/folk": gentle and dreamlike, with low-key, mature vocals and adroit finger-style guitar. Appel's recordings are somewhat difficult to locate, as all are on small, independent labels, but the persistent will be rewarded.
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Scott T. Appel (March 3, 1954 – March 11, 2003) was a musician and a musicologist.
Biography
Appel began playing the guitar at the age of eight. Initial influences were the English "folkies" Davy Graham and Bert Jansch.
In 1972 Appel gained admittance to Boston's Berklee School of Music.
In 1989 Appel released the album Nine of Swords on the Kicking Mule label as KM-343, which included six Nick Drake covers and also some Drake-influenced pieces. It was reissued in 1995 by Schoolkids Records The album was warmly received and received four stars by Rolling Stone.
Appel died in New Jersey at the age of 48 after a long battle with heart disease. Friend and fellow guitarist Mark Fogarty posted an obituary of Appel on his MySpace page
Appel was a primary contributor to the Nick Drake tribute album "Brittle Days"(1992) released by Manchester England's Imaginary Records. Appel contributed "From the Morning" and "Hazy Jane". Both tracks were produced by NY producer Brad Morrison and recorded at Mixolydian Studios.
Discography
Glassfinger (1985)
Nine of Swords (1989)
Parhelion (1998)
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Glassfinger
A review is welcome....I can't find any.
Nine Of Swords
Review by Pemberton Roach-Allmusic Guide
Nine of Swords is both a touching tribute to, and an in-depth exploration of, the music and genius of Nick Drake. A masterful acoustic guitar player, Scott Appel has actually managed to figure out some of Drake's ultra-obscure alternate tunings and here uses them on performances of unreleased compositions by Nick Drake himself, as well as several excellent Drake-influenced originals. Amazingly, Appel manages not only to duplicate Drake's enigmatic guitar stylings, but the late singer/songwriter's quiet grace and intensity as well. Perfect music for a lonely winter day, Nine of Swords occasionally veers into new age territory, but more often is reminiscent of Leo Kottke or Frank Christian, two other players who share Nick Drake's penchant for gracing powerfully meditative and emotionally charged songs with brilliant and complex guitar playing. On a few tunes, Appel strays from the solo acoustic format by including bass, percussion, strings, synth, electric lead guitar and tape loop effects, but the additions are always appropriate, occasionally (particularly on the title track) recalling the more experimental work of John Martyn. A gifted player who is incredibly adept at duplicating the haunting musical moods of his hero, Scott Appel has, with Nine of Swords, unquestionably established himself as the torchbearer and foremost interpreter of Nick Drake's work.
Panthelion
Parhelion is a moving album its wonderful guitar work which is complex will appeal to anyone who appreciates a fine guitar player such as scott, it is a good album with some well writen tracks although I think he should have concentrated more on his own material, Nick Drake is not easy to cover and it shows, brittle days is an example of what a good composer Scott was, if you like this you will aslo like Nine of Swords another Nick Drake inspired album from Scott Appel a fine musician in his own right
Scott's third (and last, alas) record combines his great final songwriting plus some rare out-takes spanning his whole career. Check out his great "Nine of Swords" and first record, which may be LP only, "Glassfinger." Time for a comprehensive collection of this fine guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and vocalist (as long as it was in the key of D!).
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Road (cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JDswU48j_c
Place To Be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvzu_eYXL8c
