My Highly Strung Blonde!
6.am, and Dave Loew rolls over and gently awakes his slumbering bed pal companion of some 36 years, who, despite her age of 108, is still vibrant, youthful and alluring, her voluptuous curves the envy of many a younger generation, her passionate sounds the envy of many an aspiring pop diva. Her name, Gladys, (somewhat eccentric perhaps), and especially being an Italian pedigree, her name chosen by a leading Australian photographer who became besotted during their very first album cover shoot for Dave in 1987(Polygram).
Much water has indeed since passed under her eloquent bridge, travelling the world in airplanes as either a first class passenger or even at one time, strapped in the co pilot’s seat, flying high, be it above the Canadian Rocky mountains, or Afghan mountains and even Australia’s Nullabor desert.
A near career “tsunami” in England followed in the early 1990’s, when the cherished dream of his first world release album ended in tatters and despair (due to the financial demise of the label signed too), saw Dave at one point, having to hide his inseperable companion at a secret location away from the bank.Dark times indeed, also losing his dad to cancer and being skint, so unable to hop on a plane to be by his side.
But, Dave hails from a hardy Hungarian Jewish stock (many were holocaust victims), and soon, he was playing in cafes and centres, soothing diners and passers by.In 1999 he won settlement from a record label, enabling the launch of his very own business<, Safari In Classics>, for Dave felt in his heart, that there was indeed a “niche” for his music a belief held firm through many harrowing times.
Now in 2009, with countless thousands of albums sold afar as Norway, Iceland, China and South America at sixty, Dave still rises at dawn to drive to events all over the country, spurred on by the warm reception from, and sales with from shoppers of all creeds and ages and walks of life. November now brings his long awaited newest offering “Dave Loew At The Movies” , a themed collection of great film classics (with four bonus Shadows tracks), recorded with twenty two aspiring post graduate musicians from one of London’s elite music colleges, conducted superbly by Nic Pendlebury. Dave booked these young musicians because he knew that the enthusiasm, passion and vibrancy they would bring would shine through in the recording and, it does, in spades! Having produced other albums and played with eminent orchestras in his long career he always put his joy of making music vs just “playing another concert or, session” as foremost.
What makes this album stand out from so many other “theme albums” is the way Dave has played Gladys as a “solo vocal” in a setting of these brilliant young players.Dave loved producing the magic of blending of both traditional and modern instruments, with every line and note imbued with a full and unswerving passion and soul. And yet, dedication throughout the album to precision, balance, sound quality, colours and overall excellence are also most evident .As one example, the Shadows bonus titles instead of being “yet another session effort” are presented in a chamber music setting perhaps a first? With a rich and rare century of show business personalities and stars in his genes, Dave is a unique and unequalled artist to in his wide and varied music genres.
Dave and Gladys now hope therefore, that you will take just a few minutes to sit back and enjoy their latest offering, “Dave Loew At The Movies” with such classics in an all new and specially arranged format by Richard Balcombe, one of our country!s finest arrangers(Radio 2, English National Opera etc).These all newly commissioned titles include the iconic Band Of Brothers theme, Curse of the Black Pearl(Pirates Caribbean), The English Patient, The Godfather and Out Of Africa and the immortal Lawrence of Arabia. An added bonus, four stunning tracks of the legendary Shadows pop group and importantly, a world premiere by England’s famous writer, Geoffrey Burgon, his Island At War, one of Dave’s staunch admirers.