Album Notes

Tony Gabriel “Walking Distance” is the collaboration of Tony and drummer, co-producer and good friend, Bill Jaile. Bill plays all of the drums and sundry percussion on every track as well as backing vocals on “Steering Wheel”. Bill’s uncompromising sense of taste, technical ease and all-around great vibe make him the ideal producer. This CD was recorded in an atmosphere of outright fun, silliness and mutual respect. There were probably more laughs between takes than notes actually recorded!

Tony was born in a small town called Alvados in central Portugal. His family moved to the United States when he was six years old settling in Hartford, Ct. where he continued to make his home until very recently.

He discovered he was a natural at music at age ten when he picked up a guitar with only the lower three strings on it and accompanied his cousin by playing the bass part to Santana’s “Evil Ways”. The actual mechanics between the right and left hands just occurred automatically with very little instruction and knowing when to play the correct notes just seemed to happen without much forethought.

From that day on he was completely consumed with music, different instruments and sounds. His dad, Gabriel Frutuoso, was a mandolinist/multi-instrumentalist and his brother Joe, a bass player. There was always music and music-making going on and a lot of his time was spent experimenting with the various instruments that were found in his home such as guitar, organ, mandolin and bass guitar. The idea of creating original songs was one that appealed to him right from his first involvement with music. As soon as he could string a few chords together he began to hum the catchy melodies that he heard in his head as he played them. Not long after that he started to develop what has turned out to be a very expressive and versatile voice.

His style is influenced by a wide variety of music. From Rock, R & B, Soul, Folk and Country to the Portuguese and other European folk and popular tunes that he would hear on the ethnic radio programs and at the live performances of his dad’s and his brother’s respective bands. Growing up in the inner city exposed him to variety in just about every aspect of daily life. Inspired by this eclectic mix of genres and his urban multicultural life experiences and observations, the songs he writes have a unique yet familiar feeling to them that most people can’t help but relate to. His songs will either deal with a subject matter that’s a little off of the beaten path or a refreshingly unexpected viewpoint on what at first might appear as a common topic.

Since the age of eleven Tony has always been a part of performing bands either in the role of bass player or guitarist/lead vocalist. Recording his compositions on Tony Gabriel/Walking Distance with friend, co-producer and drummer, Bill Jaile, has been one of the most pleasant and gratifying creative arrangements he has ever participated in. Whenever these two get together “it’s nothin’ but fun!” and it’s definitely reflected in the music.