Music Style Acoustic World Music

Artist History GaiaWolf, formed in 1999, was co-founded by musician and composer E.C. Lorick and vocalist/percussionistDawn Casteel-Lorick. E.C. had been writing songs for years but had felt a particular passion for writing about animal rights and social issues. Although E.C. had enjoyed a long solo career as a singer/songwriter, accompanying himself on the acoustic and electric guitars as well as harmonica, his proficiency on the bass and his facility with harmony and background vocals made him a much sought-after sideman in others' projects. A few months after Dawn and E.C. decided to pursue a larger vehicle for their music, they met acclaimed acoustic guitarist/vocalist Marji Zintz. Marji had also enjoyed a very long career as a solo performer, the leader of a self-named quarter performing original music, and a participant in other projects, including a mostly a capella vocal trio called "Sister Sound," that call on her vocal arranging skills. Dawn and E.C. invited Marji to a rehearsal one evening, and she was thoroughly enchanted by the beauty of the compositions and the solid melodies. Most importantly, though, she was impressed and attracted by the group's stated mission and the tunes' graceful ability to convey their messages. GaiaWolf's message can be conveyed with completeness as a trio, but a few other players join them, and they effectively augment GaiaWolf's original sound. Classical and electric guitarist Jim Kunkel, himself a prolific composer in the jazz and improvisational idioms, and bass player Steve Agostini, with a long career as a solo performer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboard player round out the group's sound. GaiaWolf also boasts an impressive list of alumni,that includes Doug Heinsman on keyboards, Mike Kimmel on drums and percussion, Mary "Ildiko" Mester on vocals, Andrea Mortello on vocals, Mike Taplinger on bass, Astrid Vollman on vocals, Latin percussionist Rafael Figueroa, and Roger Voss on drums

Group Members GaiaWolf is: E.C. Lorick, lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Dawn Casteel-Lorick, vocals and percussion; and Marji Zintz, vocals and acoustic guitar. E.C. Lorick is a co-founder of GaiaWolf. E.C. has written and sings most of the songs of GaiaWolf. He has had an extensive career as a musician, playing guitar and singing both solo and with others. He is a multi-instrumentalist, playing electric and acoustic guitars, bass, and harmonica, a composer and arranger, and is the leader of this fine group of artists. Co-founder Dawn Casteel-Lorick is a gifted vocalist and the percussionist in the band. She brings a sweet voice and on-target harmonies, but it is her passion for the material that really shines through! She is also the spiritual conscience of GaiaWolf and keeps the band moving in the right direction. Marji Zintz is a phenomenal vocalist/arranger and plays superb acoustic guitar as well. She is also a featured performer in the band who sings songs that are selected from her own self-titled CD. The songs of GaiaWolf carry that much more power and sincerity because of Marji's participation. She is irreplaceable. As a solo performer, Marji had been receiving wide acclaim in the New York and tri-state area for several years in both the jazz and folk genres. She has performed and recorded as a soloist and in duet settings with various bassists, including Mike Richmond, Joseph Pelletier, Jay Anderson, and Steve Roane, as well as in larger ensembles. In addition, she has co-produced two "Women in Jazz" concerts for the Rockland County Jazz and Blues Society. Marji has also worked in collaboration with improvisational vocalists Victoria Christgau and Shula Ruth Weinstein in Sister Sound, a mostly a capella recording and performance project. They have performed with Robert Weinstein on classical guitar, and John Marshall on percussion. As a solo performer, Marji has shared the bill with such diverse acts as Koko Taylor, Tom Paxton, Jonathan Edwards, and Robbie Robertson.

Instruments Vocals, guitars, bass & percussion

Albums GaiaWolf (available here at MP3.com)

Location Goshen, NY - USA

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