Randall Bramblett
American musician and singer-songwriter
Musical artist
Randall Bramblett (born 1948) is an American musician and singer-songwriter, whose career as a solo artist, session player , and touring musician, has spanned more than three decades. He has worked with Gregg Allman , Bonnie Raitt , Goose Creek Symphony , Robbie Robertson , Elvin Bishop , Steve Winwood , Bonnie Bramlett , B.J. Thomas , Widespread Panic , Jay E. Livingston and Roger Glover .[ 1] He plays keyboards, saxophones, flute, guitar, mandolin, and harmonica, and his songwriting is influenced by blues, folk, and gospel music.
Life and career
Born in Jesup, Georgia , United States, Bramblett studied religion and psychology at the University of North Carolina , with the objective of entering the seminary . However, finding inspiration in the music of James Taylor , Carole King , and Bob Dylan , he abandoned his theological studies and pursued songwriting, soon moving to Athens, Georgia .
After establishing himself as a session musician in the early 1970s, recording with artists like Gregg Allman and Elvin Bishop , Bramblett toured with bands such as the Gregg Allman Band , Sea Level , Widespread Panic , and Traffic .[ 1] [ 2] Bramblett, along with Chuck Leavell , has been credited with giving Sea Level, described as "a jazz-influenced spinoff from the Allman Brothers Band ," a new, unique direction.[ 3] Bramblett has been described as an outstanding lyricist and vocalist. The songs he wrote during his time with Sea Level have been described as "philosophical, despairing soul and funk tunes and rockers."[ 3]
As of 2017, Bramblett has recorded a total of fourteen albums, with the first two, That Other Mile and Light of the Night, issued by Polydor in the 1975 and 1976, and multiple albums in each succeeding decade. Bramblett's 2001 album, No More Mr. Lucky, features Bramblett playing the Hammond B-3 and saxes. Tracks on that album has been described as rich, funky, hip, and raw.[ 2]
In 2015, Bramblett released Devil Music . The title track was inspired by the story of Howlin' Wolf trying to reunite with his estranged mother, who had abandoned him for "playing the devil's music."[ 4]
Discography
Randall Bramblett on sax at The Saint , Asbury Park, NJ , on September 14, 2013.
Randall Bramblett performing in Brunswick, Georgia , May 9, 2015
Randall Bramblett/The Randall Bramblett Band
Album title
Release date
Label
Format(s)
That Other Mile
1975
Polydor
LP
Light of the Night
1976
Polydor
LP
Live at the i&i
1982
Catmando Productions
LP
Visionary School
1997
Compact cassette
See Through Me
1998
Capricorn
CD
No More Mr. Lucky
2001
New West
CD, digital download
Thin Places
2004
New West
CD, digital download
Rich Someday
2006
New West
CD, digital download
Now It's Tomorrow
2008
New West
CD, digital download
The Meantime
2010
Blue Ceiling
CD, digital download
Randall Bramblett & Geoff Achison
Jammin' In The Attic
2010
Hittin' The Note Records
CD, digital download
The Bright Spots
2013
New West
CD, digital download
Devil Music
2015
New West
CD, vinyl, digital download
Juke Joint at the Edge of the World
2017
New West
CD, vinyl, digital download
Pine Needle Fire
2020
New West
CD, vinyl, digital download
Guest appearances
Artist
Album
Year
Label
Performances
Other contributions
Tommy Talton
Somewhere South of Eden
2017
Tommy Talton Music
Tenor Sax
Allman and Woman
Two The Hard Way
1977
Capricorn
sax
The Allman Brothers Band
All Live
1998
PolyGram
sax
Gregg Allman
Laid Back
1973
Capricorn
sax
The Gregg Allman Tour
1974
PolyGram
organ, horn, sax
horn arrangements
Atlanta Rhythm Section
Back Up Against The Wall
1973
Decca Records
piano
Elvin Bishop
Let It Flow
1974
Capricorn
sax
Sure Feels Good: The Best of Elvin Bishop
1992
Polydor
sax
Bonnie Bramlett
It's Time
1975
Capricorn
sax
Lady's Choice
1976
Capricorn
sax
Beautiful
2008
Rockin' Camel
sax, keys, vocals
Cowboy
Boyer and Talton
1973
Capricorn
sax, vocals
Cowboy
1977
Capricorn
sax, vocals
A Different Time: The Best of Cowboy
1993
Polydor
sax
Deep Purple and Friends
Purple and Other Colors
2003
Snapper Music
vocals
Doubting Thomas
Who Died and Made You King?
1998
Oh Very
sax
Enlightenment Road Band
Songs From the Road to Enlightenment
2001
Five Feathers
piano, organ, sax, vocals
Filet of Soul
Incommunicado
1998
Shank
sax
Rick Fowler
Back on My Good Foot
2008
Jammates
organ
Roger Glover
Snapshot
2002
Red Ink
piano, keys, organ, sax, vocals
Gov't Mule
Live...With a Little Help from Our Friends
1999
Volcano 3
soprano, tenor sax
The Deep End, vol. 1
2001
ATO
organ
John Hammond, Jr.
Can't Beat The Kid
1975
Capricorn
piano, keys
Hydra
Hydra
1974
Capricorn
sax
Johnny Jenkins
Blessed Blues
1996
Capricorn
organ, sax
Handle With Care
2001
Orchard
keys
All in Good Time
2005
Mean Old World
organ, keys, sax, vocals
Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons
Conscious Contact
2001
Terminus
organ, keys, Wurlitzer, vocals
Jan Krist
Curious
1996
Silent Planet
piano, keys, sax
Chuck Leavell
Southscape
2005
Megaforce
recorder, sax
Lingo
Through The Scattered Trees
2008
organ, sax
Francine Reed
Can't Make It on My Own
1996
Ichiban
sax
Robbie Robertson
Carny (soundtrack)
1980
Warner Bros
sax
B. J. Thomas
Longhorns & Londonbridges
1974
Paramount Records
piano, keys, vocals
several Randall Bramblett compositions on album
Traffic
Traffic Live (DVD)
1994
Rhino
woodwinds, keys
The Last Great Traffic Jam
2005
Legacy Recordings
woodwinds, keys
various artists
Woodstock '94 (DVD)
1994
A&M Records
woodwinds, keys
Vigilantes of Love
Live at the 40 Watt
1998
Paste
Hammond synth
Summershine
2001
Compass Records
organ, piano, keys, mellotron, Chamberlain
Widespread Panic
Live in the Classic City
2002
Sanctuary Records
Sax
Jackassolantern
2004
Sanctuary
Sax
Live From the Backyard
2003
Sanctuary
Alto and Soprano Sax, Guitar
Steve Winwood
Refugees of the Heart
1990
Virgin Records
Alto and Soprano Sax
Sea Level
Cats on the Coast
1977
Capricorn
Organ, Alto and Soprano Sax, Vocals, Percussion
Sea Level
On the Edge
1978
Capricorn
Alto and Soprano Sax, Vocals, Electric Piano
Sea Level
Long Walk on a Short Pier
1979
Capricorn
Alto and Soprano Sax, Vocals, Keyboards
Sea Level
Ball Room
1980
BMG
Alto and Soprano Sax, Vocals, Keyboards
Sea Level
Best of Sea Level
1990
Island/Mercury
Alto and Soprano Sax, Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion
References
^ a b Himes, Geoffrey (May 28, 2004). "Thin P ...:". The Washington Post Washington, D.C . pp. WW. 15.
^ a b Cristiano, Nick (February 1, 2002). "Deep style and substance". Orlando Sentinel Orlando, FL . p. 12.
^ a b Palmer, Robert (September 26, 1980). "Sea Level at Bottom Line (Review)". New York Times , Late Edition (East Coast) New York City . pp. C.21.
^ from an interview on Americana Music Show #267 , published October 6, 2015.
External links
International National Artists