Press

To laugh or to cry.

It is Wednesday night and the count of shows at the Gambetta Theatre, to date, would take four hands. All the better to applaud this show. The acid humour known to those who despair and to those who love life, the starry burst of laughter welling deep from within, this complete, sensitive musician, Alan Gerber, transcends his own restlessness and moves us in shades of blues.

Through an intimate evening, this blues man from Chicago (living in Quebec) kept the intensity growing until the audience was at fever pitch. To thank Alan Gerber fot this memorable evening would be acknowlodging only part of the man. A man who has learned that foresight and willpower, love of his art and respect for others are, without a doubt, and expression of deep humanity and the best way to keep oneself intact.

Whether he is playing his instruments (piano, synthesizer, slide guitar, violin, accordion) singing his excellent compositions of wonderful interpretations of well-known standards, Alan Gerber is an imposing artist.

We will wait for this return to Carcassonne when even more people will benefit from these precious moments. We must thank all those who made this possible.

Sauntered into your show at the Ottawa Blues fest and was overwhelmed by the warmth of your performance and the positive energy. Thanks and here are a couple of mementos of the show. Danny Murray, freelance journalist.

Dear Alan, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your performance at the Main Street Cafe a few weeks ago. I bought a copy of CHICKEN WALK from you and have just about wore it out playing it over and over. Will you be returning to our neck of the woods any time soon? If you do, I will bring my RHINOCEROS album and perhaps you would autograph it for me? Thanks, Joe Nowland

DAZZLING!

Barely back from his three-month tour in France, Alan Gerber came to dazzle the spectators at the Resto Blues Bar in St-Sauveur last Sunday.
Until the early morning, this self-taught musician presented his one-man-show of blues, moving ballads, rock and constant dialogue with the audience. An impressive show where the mastery of so many instruments (piano, synthesizer, slide-guitar, violin, concertina) is almost dizzying.
Residing in Val-David, Alan Gerber hails from Chicago where he made his first appearances.

He has toured North America with such greats as Janis Joplin, B.B King, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Moody Blues, Chuck Berry, Rod Stewart, Frank Zappa... He was on tour with Bob Dylan's "Rolling Thunder Review" and through the states with Lou Reed.

Alan's hit single "Tied On", produced by André Perry in Montreal, was #1 on the Quebec hit parade. For the past 10 years, he has been producing his "one-man-show" through Canada, the United States and Europe.

Alan accompanies some pieces with taped recordings of himself playing other instruments and Sunday night he played with the brilliant saxophonist, Dan Martel. A very special evening. For those who missed the show, Alan will be back in mid-June.

Hi Alan;

I so enjoyed your show at the Folkfest in Duncan. When we first got to the festival, we were trying on some clothes and while I was changing, I heard this wonderful sound coming from the stage.

Shortly after, you had ended your set and I started asking people "who was that that was just singing?" When I found out that it was you, my sister and I went to see you in "The Chapel" on the grounds and I've got to tell you that it was the best time that I've had in God knows how long! Later on we saw you again at St-Anne's stage and noticed just how many people....both young and old....were just as effected by you as we were.
I said to my sissy "This is like how it must have been when Elvis first came around....look at all of these people..look at those boys over there...they must be around 14 years old and they are so taken with this man....and look at everyone else....the smiles...and the clapping...the foot stomping (your trade mark)...he's fabulous!"

Later on I bought all 4 of your CD's and was lucky enought to get the last "Boogie Man" which you so kindly autographed for me. Thanks so much for a memorable time and I hope to see you again in person sometime.
Be proud of yourself...I sure am proud of you.

Sincerely, Laura Tate