Tony Gable & 206

Born in San Antonio, Texas, and now a Seattle, Washington resident for over two decades, Tony Gable has always been involved in the arts. He actually enrolled at Western Washington University with the dream of becoming an art teacher, but this dream gave way to the reality of an exciting and rewarding life in the performing arts.

His interest in a career as a professional musician began with his designing T-shirts and other merchandise for local Seattle bands. His whistle wetted by this, all it took was hearing and seeing Santana's work in Woodstock to get Tony out of college and into the "street percussion" scene. He would soon return, though, and ultimately earn a degree in graphic design which he uses to great effect even to this day.

His absence from school laid the groundwork for Gable to become a co-founder of the legendary Northwest group Cold, Bold, and Together. CBT represented Gable's first association with Kenny G, who was hired as the then-unknown "Kenny Gorelick" when CBT decided to "up its horns."

CBT shared bills with Kool and the Gang and Earth, Wind & Fire, and scored a regional Top 10 hit before disbanding late in the Seventies. When Kenny G went nova in 1986 with "Songbird," he wanted Tony with him, and they spent over four years on the road together. Tony finally returned home to his graphics design business and his commitment to make his own musical statement.

Says Tony, "It's funny to think how different it is now from the early days when Kenny first joined the band. We were paying our dues in small clubs, taverns and school dances. I'm proud of his phenomenal success and it's great he has encouraged my musical endeavors."

Ask most music aficionados for their take on the "Seattle Sound," and they'll offer murky images of "grunge," Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Kurt Cobain. But with their self-titled 1993 debut, Tony Gable & 206 created an infectious, soulful yet lighthearted "alternative to alternative," reaching out from the Pacific Northwest and into the Top 5 of all New Adult Contemporary airplay charts nationwide. Gable, who gained worldwide fame and exposure adding exotic textures to the touring and recording bands of superstar saxman Kenny G, has again gathered some of the city's brightest jazz players for the spirited and eclectic Seven Hills.

"Once more, our goal is to cut another slice of the jazzier side of the music being played in area code 206," says Tony of the collection, whose seven-member core is enhanced by the electric guitar charisma of John Raymond (who also produced Seven Hills) and, on the opening track, a sizzling piano solo by fusion legend Jeff Lorber. The first time out we introduced the 206 concept, and Seven Hills reflects a maturing of our group sound. There's more acoustic playing, more writing from the nucleus group, and more of my own percussion contributions here.''

"I feel like I'm overseeing a variety pack of what the hot sounds are in Seattle," he says. "Like Quincy or Ray Charles, I'm creating a positive environmont where musicians feel good about what they do. New York and L.A. have their own jazz scenes, their own sounds, and people need to be reminded that our region is a hotbed of activity as well.''