Smooth Jazz Radio! You can now listen to our first single release “The Night & You” on Smooth Jazz radio and other stations around the world! Click on the logo below…
Why GNU BLU? All modern music, regardless of genre, has it roots in the Blues. My band and the songs on this album represent our contemporary/smooth jazz take on the Blues. And just for fun, we wanted to add a little word play. So what the heck, let’s go for a gnu! Voila…GNU BLU is born!
What to know about the album tracks:
1. The Night & You - (Words & Music by Ian Michael Townsend)
This is a happy song. And a personal one too. It’s about meeting my wife, the ‘dancing giddy goddess’ for the first time.
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals, flugelhorn, guitar, piano), Dave Girdlestone (electric guitar solo), John Ferreira (guitar), Gary Gander (guitar), Jim Casson (drums, percussion), Jim Gillard (co-producer), John Ferreira (co-producer)
2. I Can’t Get Outta My Head (Words & Music by Ian Michael Townsend & Jim Gillard)
A man romanticizes, fantasizes, dreams about a woman he knows from afar. If only he could take the next step!
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals, flugelhorn, trumpet), Phil Disera (guitar), Jim Gillard (drums, percussion). Jim McGrath (strings and horn arrangement), Jim Gillard (producer)
3. Our House Of Rain (Words & Music By Ian Michael Townsend)
Any serious songwriter must study Joni Mitchell, both her music and her life. My respect for her art and of her story knows no bounds. This is a song imagined from the male perspective of a relationship with Joni.
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals, trumpet), Lou Pomanti (piano, organ), Phil Disera (guitar), Russ Boswell (bass), Jim Gillard (drums, percussion). Ian Michael Townsend (co-producer), Jim Gillard (co-producer)
4. Summer (Words & Music by Jim Gillard)
This is a beautiful song about the temporary nature of things, including love.
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals, flugelhorn, strings), Phil Disera (guitar, bass), Jim Gillard (drums, percussion). Jim Gillard (producer, strings)
5. US1 (Words & Music by Ian Michael Townsend & Jim Gillard)
Living on the road is tough on a relationship. The loneliness, the temptation. Jim and I both have lived it. And there may be no more famous road in America than US1. We started writing about our experiences and then Jim added a unique time signature pattern and chord progressions. Then we layered in vocal harmonies reminiscent of Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals, flugelhorn), Phil Disera (guitar. bass), Jim Gillard (piano, drums, percussion). Jim Gillard (producer)
6. Pat & Lyle (Music by Ian Michael Townsend)
This an instrumental piece dedicated to two of my music idols Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays (who sadly passed away in 2020). This cut is the up-tempo radio version. The extended version with a slow introduction is the last track on the album.
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (flugelhorn, piano), Phil Disera (guitar), Jim Gillard (drums, percussion). Ian Michael Townsend (co-producer), Jim Gillard (co-producer)
7. She Gonna Do (Words & Music by Jim Gillard)
A fun, cheeky song about a man and his woman. Sing along!
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals), Phil Disera (guitar, bass, alto sax), Jim Gillard (background vocals, flugelhorn, trumpet, ukulele, organ, drums, percussion). Jim Gillard (producer)
8. Avi Marie (Words & Music by Ian Michael Townsend)
We all deal with sadness, sorrow and betrayal differently, I have a good friend who went through a very tough breakup. She isolated from everyone. Her friends wanted to help, even just to say hold on to your hopes, draw upon your dreams. Most sad songs are written in minor keys. But I primarily use major chords here in order to provide an interesting musical contrast.
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals, guitar), Phil Disera (guitar, bass), Jim Gillard (drums, percussion). Jim Gillard (producer)
9. Better Man (Words & Music by Ian Michael Townsend & Jim Gillard)
Inspired by the great band Tower of Power, this is a plea from a man’s heart. He has made mistakes and desperately wants to be a better man for his woman. I love singing this song because I get to be in full ‘beast mode’!
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (regular and beast vocals, trumpet), Phil Disera (guitar, bass), Wendy Lands (supporting vocals), Chloe Gillard (supporting vocals), Matt Woroshyl (baritone sax), Jim Gillard (piano, organ, drums, percussion). Jim Gillard (producer)
10. A Little Love & Kindness (Music & Lyrics by Ian Michael Townsend & Jim Gillard)
In this song, we wonder - what if breakups could be more congenial? Instead of all the ugliness at the end, why not remember and celebrate the good times too? With a sweet little ‘gotcha’ line at the end.
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals, trumpet), Phil Disera (guitar, bass), Ross Wooldridge (clarinet), Bill Rowen (piano), Jim Gillard (drums, percussion). Jim Gillard (producer)
11. The Cat In Casablanca (Words & Music by Ian Michael Townsend)
One gloomy day, I was watching the old movie Casablanca and on came the Dos Equis beer commercial (The Most Interesting Man In The World). I thought, what if Humphrey Bogart was that guy? Funny where inspiration sometimes comes from.
Credit: Ian Michael Townsend (vocals, flugel, guitars, piano), Jim Gillard (percussion). Ian Michael Townsend (co-producer), Jim Gillard (co-producer)
12. Pat & Lyle (Extended Version) (Music by Ian Michael Townsend)
This is the full version and includes an adagio (slow) and an allegro (fast) section. This track is meant to be a lullaby to life. It starts with a carefree melody representing childhood and moves to the angst of teen years. Then onto adulthood and all the challenges and uncertainties people face at the various stages of their life. It ends in a happy way, as our existence becomes more clear in our last years.
Credits: Ian Michael Townsend (flugelhorn, piano), Phil Disera (guitar), Jim Gillard (drums, percussion). Ian Michael Townsend (co-producer), Jim Gillard (co-producer)