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Pigat draws from a wide and eclectic range of tastes, but is partial to the Merle Travis style of picking. His virtuoso guitar skills set him apart as one of the few guitarists able to do the style justice. His devotion to expanding on this particular musical style coupled with a relentless touring schedule have created an erudite sophistication in his writing. “I wanted to take the music out of the realm of revivalists, infuse it with various types of roots music and mutate it with balls-to-wall rock’n’roll all with the volume cranked up to eleven,” explains Pigat. It’s A Sin is firmly rooted in the era that Paul Pigat likes the best - a time when guitar virtuosity was taken to a stratospheric level and music lovers expected no less. The seemingly effortless way that Pigat attacks such complex material is nothing short of astounding. 2010 tour highlights to date include Paul Pigat’s series of acclaimed shows at Winter Namm in Los Angeles with Gretsch Guitars, a tour of The Netherlands and Belgium with Jim Byrnes and The Sojourners and Cousin Harley’s Australian debut at the Byron Bay Bluesfest on Easter weekend. The band will hit the road in support of this new CD with a tour of both Western Canada and Europe in July. Cousin Harley features guitar ace Paul Pigat on vocal and guitar slingin’ duties, crazed upright bass player Keith Picot and noted jazz drummer Jesse Cahill pounding the rock steady beats. The three piece combo was featured at the 2009 Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekender and caused more than a few mouths to gape and eyeballs to pop. “There’s always a few guitar players in any scene who are looked up at by the rest. Guitarist Pigat is one such figure.” - The Province. Cousin Harley is the rocking hillbilly persona of Paul Pigat, an extraordinary guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Cousin Harley has a hard-earned reputation for delivering everything from hot rod rockabilly to foot stomping vintage country and western swing. Pigat’s Cousin Harley style is deeply rooted in the playing of Les Paul, Charlie Christian and Link Wray with a modern twist to create a style that is exhilarating in its intensity, yet at the same time fluid and precise. Paul’s creative use of tone and dynamics is a hallmark of everything he plays, and his sense of rhythm is both sophisticated and dead on. An extremely versatile artist, with projects ranging from delta blues to classical music, Paul Pigat has recorded and toured with the likes of Neko Case, Michael Kaeshammer, and Carolyn Mark and has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Mae Moore, Lee Aaron, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Joshua Redman, Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys, Aaron Neville, Jim Byrnes, Ndidi Onukwulu, Zubot & Dawson and more. Pigat’s superb talent as a guitarist is matched by his vocal abilities; a warm baritone equally at home singing flat-out rockers and relaxed country swing. Cousin Harley showcases the swing, rockabilly, blues and jazz elements that makes it truly unique in the roots music world. From classic honky tonk and cow punk tinged rippers, to a helping of western swing and classic jump blues, Cousin Harley plays in the old tradition—slugging it out hot and heavy in the trenches of the live music scene. All three members of Cousin Harley are festival favourites, together and individually, and bring extensive collaborative and improvisational experience to any workshop stage. From traditional to experimental, across multiple genres, these three talented musicians make it work. See also: Paul Pigat. |
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HIGHLIGHTS |
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Little
Pig Records is pleased to announce the release of It’s A Sin,
the first CD in four years from Vancouver’s Cousin Harley,
and touted as the best one yet. With the exception of two obscure
covers, the seamless amalgam of rockabilly, surf, spaghetti western
themes, Tex-Mex and western swing were all penned by Paul Pigat.