This long awaited PT Gazell CD is an exciting collection of swing, ballads & standards.The side effects instrumentation of acoustic bass, drums, and hollow body electric guitar, create a tight, swinging groove. PT's distinctive sound and phrasing on the diatonic harmonica soar over these grooves with feel and verve. The collection is, in a word, stunning. Add vibes to four tracks, and PT has created a unique blend of instrumentation and inspired viruoso playing. PT calls it... "Swingin' Easy...Hittin' Hard" With this new CD, PT once again sets a standard for others to follow. Combining elements of Jazz, Swing, and Pop Standards PT Gazell has produced a classic American Recording that will keep your toes tappin', your head boppin' and your smile firmly in place. PT Gazell's first release, "Pace Yourself", (featuring Jerry Douglas and Ricky Skaggs as sidemen) set the gold standard for diatonic harmonica playing. This blast of sonic bluegrass was and is, ahead of its time.His innovative work with the West Texas Music Company, (Johnny Paycheck's working band) from 1977 to 1980 opened up new musical possibilities for PT. His ability as a soloist and as an ensemble member of the band garnered him both critical and popular acclaim and made him one of the most sought after session players in the country. From Jazz to Bluegrass, PT Gazell covers the musical waterfront as a bandleader, a recording artist and soloist. The one common denominator is the pure musical joy that emanates with each carefully considered note he plays. "PT Gazell's new CD "Swingin' Easy...Hittin' Hard" is truly a breath of fresh air. I think it's really SENSATIONAL. Great stuff, and a great selection of songs. I've listened twice and I'm ready to listen again. Congrats!" -Charlie McCoy "PT Gazell's "Swingin' Easy...Hittin" Hard" CD not only establishes him as one of today's modern harmonica masters, but also his command of the instrument clearly puts him at the front of establishing the valved diatonic harp as a sweet, wonderful, swinging, and clear alternative to the chromatic harmonica, much the same way Howard Levy established the diatonic harmonica as a fully capable chromatic instrument with the over blow technique. So in short, PT is here to stay and so are his valved harps!" - Jason Ricci "PT has utterly mastered the technique of playing chromatically on a valved diatonic, and his playing on the new CD is clean, accurate, and sweet throughout. I've watched PT play a number of times, and I have always been struck by the reaction he gets. There's a lightness, an ease, and a beauty to his playing that simply makes his listeners happy; I can't think of a better way to put it. This is music that will make you smile." -George Brooks I bought this disk at the Bean Blossom Blues Fest and since PT was there, I got him to sign it..It is everything that I have read about it and more..The precision with which PT plays is amazing. And on a diatonic harp to boot..September Song is by far my favorite but, it has been high on my list of fav tunes for a long time. I don't want to detract from the rest of the disk either. It is all good ne great. This disk just shows how versatile the harmonica is and how it can sound in other genres not just blues.. I pretend to play the harp and PT is definitley one of my heros who I try hard to emulate.. If I was going to buy just one harp disk this year, this would be it...Thanks PT... -Blind Bob