Brian Stoltz - East of Rampart Street (2002)

After years of apprenticeship with the likes of the Neville Brothers,the "funky" Meters,Dr.John and Bob Dylan, Brian Stoltz has created the funkiest pop rock recording to come out of New Orleans in decades.

Brian Stoltz has been gathering fans and is becoming known around the world as New Orleans' premiere singer/songwrite/guitarist. He has, in equal measure, based his career on virtuosity, raw emotion and a funky, yet blistering signature style.

The guitarist, while touring and recording for 10 years with the world renowned "First Family of Funk," the Neville Brothers, has created fluid and coherent bodies of work on his own. In addition to being in demand as a phenomenal guitarist, his skill as a songwriter has caught the attention of artists like Aaron Neville, the Neville Brothers, blues artist Coco Montoya, zydeco artist Zachary Richard and film director John Sayles.

Renowned for his awesome virtuosity and unmistakable sound, his performances have been featured on recordings by artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John and Aaron Neville to name a few.

Brian is currently touring and recording with Porter-Batiste-Stoltz,the Funky Meters, and is touring the country leading his own band in solo performances. He has also been travelling with the "Ultimate Six String Showdown" who along with himself features fellow guitar slingers Tab Benoit and Jimmy Thackery.

In television appearances including The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, Austin City Limits, concerts with the Grateful Dead and Amnesty International, Brian has drawn critical acclaim. He has received awards from CMJ (College Music Journal) and the New Music Corporation for Lifetime Achievement. His co-written Healing Chant, performed by the Neville Brothers, won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental in 1991. He has performed on numerous music videos and his work has been called the highlight of movie soundtracks such as John Sayles' City of Hope and The Mighty Quinn.

Shortly before leaving the Neville Brothers in early 1990, Brian left his roots behind and travelled to New York City to help put together a new band Big Deep to record for RCA Records. Along with Brian, the band consisted of members from Pink Floyd, The The, and the Neville Brothers quickly gaining a reputation as somewhat of a supergroup. A shake up at the record company left some key players out of a job and Big Deep dropped from the label shortly before the record's official release. During this same period, Brian managed to find time to go on the road with Dr. John. Soon realizing that Big Deep was not as deep as it should have been, he returned to his roots and travelled and recorded with Dr. John for the next year, exploring the funky side of life.

Brian Stoltz has gained a reputation as a masterful and progressive singer/songwriter guitarist whose music has centered around his melodic and fluent fretboard mastery as well as a skill for powerful, emotional songwriting. In late 2000, he wrote and produced a CD titled Starving Buddha showcasing his capacity as a producer after years in the studio with industry greats like Daniel Lanois (U2, Dylan, Peter Gabriel) and Paul Simon. With the ascetic title Brian came up with on one of his frequent trips to India, Starving Buddha is rhythmically and texturally complex yet easy to listen to. A humorous and desirable dark aura surrounds this record winning it critical acclaim and great reviews for an internet only release.

Brian has been wooing fans for years and with his current project, a new CD titled "East Of Rampart Street" scheduled for release January 2003, he is showing himself to be an exceptionally talented singer and band leader.