For Immediate Release
June 14, 2006
MUSIC LEGEND LES PAUL INVITES CARL PALMER BAND GUITARIST, PAUL BIELATOWICZ, ONSTAGE FOR IMPROMPTU JAM!
Carl Palmer Band guitarist Paul Bielatowicz
performs onstage with Les Paul & His Trio.
July 5th, 2006 at the Irdium in New York City.
While enjoying a rare day off while in New York City, Carl Palmer
Band guitarist Paul Bielatowicz got an unexpected invitation: He was asked
by 91 year-old music legend, Les Paul to join him onstage for an impromptu jam
session with Les and his classic trio.
“It was an incredible honor to be
asked by a music legend as important as Les Paul to come on stage and perform
during his show,” said Bielatowicz, shortly after performing with the elder
Paul on Monday, June 5th, at the Iridium Jazz Club in Times Square,
New York City. “To be playing along
side the man who introduced the world to the electric guitar and has long been
viewed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, will be a moment I will
never forget.”
Bielatowicz performed a
groove-driven rendition of the Van Morrison classic, “Moondance,” with Les and
his trio, and then performed a solo version of the Rimsky-Korsakov classical
piece, “Flight Of The Bumble Bee,” which he does in the Palmer show each night.
When the guitar icon invited Bielatowicz onstage, he introduced him by saying:
“I am not even going to attempt to pronounce this guitarist’s last name, let’s
just call him Paul from England. I can remember that name!”
After finishing his two song set,
Les Paul told the audience: “ Boy, that young man sure can play!.” The audience, in turn, gave Bielatowicz a
standing ovation.
The
invitation came after Palmer Manager Bruce Pilato (who has known Les Paul since
1993) arranged for a backstage meet and greet with the guitar legend and
Bielatowicz, before the show.
“After speaking with me, he asked me
to join him on stage during the show,” said Bielatowicz, of the man who not
only invented the electric guitar, but also developed multi-track recording.
“At first I said ‘No!’, because, frankly, the thought of playing with Les Paul
was terrifying. But in the end, he was so friendly and gracious, he made me feel
very comfortable. Now, I am so glad I was able to have this amazing
opportunity.”
The jam with Les Paul took place while Bielatowicz was in
New York City to play a sold-out show with The Carl Palmer Band at
BB
Kings, also in Times Square. It was one of 33 shows on the band’s first North
American tour, which runs through July 3rd.
For
further information, please contact:
Anne
Leighton
Leighton
Media
Leightonmedia@aol.com