Post by Steve on Apr 25, 2009 5:01:35 GMT 1
Panhandle Swing and the Panhandle Playgirls
It's interesting to me that somewhere around 2005 to 2008 Bertolf became part of a "Western Swing" band called Panhandle Swing led by Berry Selles.
Berry Selles
The music style developed in Texas and was popularized by Bob Wills and his band the Texas Playboys in the 1930's.
The MySpace site of Panhandle Swing:
www.myspace.com/panhandleswing
The Band Panhandle Swing plays classic western swing in the Big Sound style of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Country crooning with a heavy swing beat, played by eight experienced jazz musicians. Working out the original two-part harmony riffs on twin fiddle and twin guitar is what theyre aiming at. Vocals and harmony singing mix with jazzy solos, also on the little heard electric mandolin and tenor banjo. Anchor of the band is a solid rhythm section featuring a real boogie pianist. Panhandle Swing - all in western dress - plays its fast repertoire in dancehalls just as in theatre concerts.
Bertolf played guitar, Dobro, Hawaiian steel guitar, besides vocals. The band has received great reviews from many countries, including a very positive review from Dr. Gary Hartman, Director - Center for Texas Music History:
"The CD is great! These guys really sound good. They’re all great players, and they sound very authentic."
Here is a video of Panhandle Swing peforming "Faded Love" with Bertolf singing lead vocals and playing on the Hawaiian steel guitar:
HQ
Bertolf plays and sings.
Bertolf at the North Sea Jazz Festival, 2005
The band also feature some bandmates who also played with him in The Junes, Her Majesty, Soul Cages up until the present time when Gertjan still plays in Bertolf's current band.
Gertjan van der Weerd
Dirk Schreuders
This is a talented band, and I think the experience enriched Bertolf and his bandmates as musicians. I happen to really like this music; I couldn't get "Faded Love" out of my head for a lot of days!
