Gene Hardy & The PIP SQUEEK ORCHESTRA Audiences first met Gene Hardy as the tenor sax dynamo in The Big Band Trio's Jumping Jive Orchestra. Since then, audiences around the world have thrilled to his exciting brand of acrobatic barrelhouse tenor playing, including performances with Michael Bublé, Michael Kaeshammer and Colin James. He now returns in 2007 to unveil a new CD and a new band! Get ready for The PIP-SQUEEK ORCHESTRA, a moldy fig high wire act that’ll leave you breathless, astonished, laughing or maybe even weeping – depending on the song. This “Ocean’s Eleven of Dixieland” comprises of some of Canada’s best entertainers, including Bublé band mates piano titan Robert G. Scott the unforgettable “Great Bob” Scott on drums. The PIP-SQUEEK ORCHESTRA harvests only the finest chestnuts & moldy figs for your entertainment, dancing and listening pleasure. QUIPS, QUOTES & EPIGRAMS about GENE HARDY "Killer...Gene Hardy is the embodiment of improvisational wizardry...one of the finest tenor players in the business." Bill Rymer / FREQ Magazine "Gene's my right hand man - my Sam Butera!" Michael Buble / saloon singer "The man's a monster!" John Taylor / reviewer, CANADIANBLUES.CA "Hardy cuts a figure in the tradition of the great R&B tenor men...cocky, sophisticated and rambunctious with loads of panache..." Prakash John / bass, FUNKADELIC/LOU REED; founder, The LINCOLNS "Gene Hardy is a master showman and a superb musician. Whether on CD or on stage, he delivers the goods!" Mick Martin NPR's "The Blues Party" (KXJZ, Sacramento; KKTO, Tahoe City/Reno; KUOP. Stockton/Modesto) "A saxophonist with great energy and flare for the unusual. Love his commitment" Lance Anderson / organist & producer, MAKEITREAL RECORDS "One of the finest horn players in the country" Virgil Scott / star of SONGS MY SISTER PLAYED "I have all his records!" Dorothy Hardy, Gene's mom "Gene Hardy stands at the summit of Canadian R&B saxophonists...a world-class player" Gary Tate / TO NITE Magazine "Big Gene! You're the one I like! Let's rock!" Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins / legend, teen idol "Get a load of those shoes!" Ruth Livingstone / bystander, Sacramento CA "Gene's horn speaks to the heart. He's an inspiration whenever I hear or share a stage with him." Bill Johnson / guitarist, AMOS GARRET/DONALD RAY JOHNSON/CASH McCALL/SON SEALS "Gene is one of the finest saxophonists I've ever worked with." Chuck Jackson / singer, DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND "Who are you? What are you doing on my stage?" Donnie Walsh / founder, DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND "Death defying sonic leaps, barnyard sounds, rapid fire staccato and a big fat smoky growl...don't be afraid; it's just your typical outing on a Gene Hardy solo!" Raymond Mitchell / The NEWS "Gene Hardy's got the look, the showmanship and - most importantly - the goods to deliver. He's one of the most entertaining, atmospheric and intelligent sax players on the scene. The energy he brings to a room is of the nuclear variety." Al Kirkcaldy / host "Blue In The Face" CFFF 92.7 FM - Peterborough ON "Gene Hardy is a sax machine!" Jaymz Bee / host "Jazz In The City" JAZZ.FM 91.1 and RJO Bandleader "Gene Hardy and his saxophone epitomizes the musical exsufflation - he can blow up a storm on any calm sea." Phil Ball / CEO Iridescent Music Inc. "A great old-school R&B tenor stylist in the tradition of Junior Walker and King Curtis." Ira Dodson / SELECT PRESS "BLOW!BLOW!BLOW! is a real swinger!" Kjell Andreassen / host RADIO HOLSTEBRO Denmark "Gene Hardy in one word...effervescent!" Danny Marks / guitar guru & broadcaster; host "Bluz.Fm" JAZZ.FM 91.1 & CBC Radio "Gene never let's the crowd off easy. When he and the saxophone connect, the magic begins - everyone comes under his spell." Paul Wainwright / THE BIG BAND TRIO "Gene Hardy is the best guitar player that ever picked up a saxophone!" guitarissimo Phil Kane aka The WINDSOR TWISTER "Gene Hardy gives his all - every time!" Brian "Colorblind" Blain / managing editor, Maple Blues Magazine "Never mind the music - my kudos go to the wardrobe, hair & makeup people!" Dr. Hilly Sands Esq. About GENE HARDY Canada's foremost R&B saxophonist, GENE HARDY began his musical journey on violin at age 9 then on saxophone a year later in Victoria, British Columbia. After studies at Victoria's Conservatory of Music & UVic, he moved to Toronto in 1986 and traded in his classical pursuits for a post-graduate degree in funk with Toronto's infamous Bourbon Tabernacle Choir. Chances are, you've heard him play. Since the Bourbon's mid '90s break-up, Gene has become the horn player of choice for many of Canada's best known exports & domestic successes. He's recorded and performed in the US & Canada with Michael Bublé and is the latest addition to Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Hawkins' band, The Hawks. In fact, Gene has recorded and performed with hundreds of acts - pop & rock, jazz & blues, country to punk and everything in between with the likes of BARENAKED LADIES, MICHAEL BUBLE, ESTHERO, BIG SUGAR, COLIN JAMES, DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND, RONNIE HAWKINS, TYLER YAREMA & HIS RHYTHM, RHEOSTATICS, The LINCOLNS, HOCK WALSH, ROGER CLOWN, VEDA HILLE, QUE VIDA, KEVIN QUAIN & The MAD BASTARDS, BIG DADDY G, FORD PIER (of DOA), DUTCH MASON, STOOPY, TABARRUK, MICHAEL KAESHAMMER, The BOURBON TABERNACLE CHOIR, Dr HILLY SAND ESQ. and Jamaica's THIRD WORLD. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! (Want the complete list? Visit http://www.genehardy.com & click on 'BANDS') He typically performs well over 300 shows a year. For the past 5 consecutive years, Gene's been nominated as HORN PLAYER OF THE YEAR by the Canadian Blues Awards in recognition for his extensive contributions, both live and in the recording studio. And what else is he up to? "Blow!Blow!Blow!" (also available from CD Baby) marked Hardy's debut as a solo artist - a rollicking inventory of R&B, jazz and blues. Hardy has also released two CDs with his band SPARKJIVER. The title of their newest CD aptly describes what they do: FUNKYBLUESYJAZZYCHURCHY