Max Gabriel

Wake Up Eleanor

Brooklyn-based Max Gabriel's music caught the ears of producer/keyboardist Scott Healy, whose wide-ranging performing and recording credits include Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, BB King, Jackson Browne, and Branford Marsalis. Around the same time, Gabriel signed to sonaBLAST! Records. The result of these meetings is Gabriel's 2007 release, The Exile of St. Christopher, featuring the talents of some of New York's most virtuosic and well-seasoned musicians. Steve Holley (Wings, Dar Williams) and Shawn Pelton (Shawn Colvin, Bruce Springsteen) play drums, Glenn Alexander (Phoebe Snow, Elvis Costello) and Jimmy Vivino (John Sebastian, Phoebe Snow, Max Weinberg 7) play guitar, and fretless bassist Bakithi Kumalo of Paul Simon's Graceland are among a few of an ensemble that includes a full horn section and the celebrated classical group the Ahn Trio. Fellow sonaBLAST! signatories Mark Geary and Kelley McRae lend back-up vocals, as does up-and-coming West Coast folk sensation Brett Dennen.

A ‘Paste Recommends’ artist and short-listed for SXSW, Max Gabriel's music is distinguished by startling lyrics, an unconventional voice, and often cinematic textures. At once literary and highly accessible, his songwriting has been compared to that of Leonard Cohen, Glen Hansard, and early David Byrne.

“Any touring musician can tell you that there is something special and irreplaceable about emerging from the Holland Tunnel into the swirling carnival of Lower Manhattan. As you make that fateful right turn onto Canal Street, be sure to have Max Gabriel's The Exile Of Saint Christopher (sonaBLAST!) spinning at an agreeable volume. Witness “Wake Up Eleanor”; the hometown boy has a knack for mining whatever remaining details out of the City that have not yet been by his peers and fore bearers up on Bleeker St. The disc also features duets with Brett Dennen and Mark Geary." -AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE

"Somewhere between Joe Henry and Jeff Buckley . . . which is a compliment."
-Ian Mathers of POP MATTERS and THE VILLAGE VOICE

"On the other hand, a far different artist is knocking at the door of attention and is nearly winning full entry. His name is Max Gabriel a young singer-songwriter who writes and performs timeless tunes written as if he were twice his age and performed with an incredible supporting cast that includes Mark Geary, Brett Dennen and Kelly McRae. Even though lyrics seem to be Max's strong suit, his warm tenor, reminiscent of a young David Wilcox, piano playing and guitar are as equally worthy. The New Yorker's The Exile Of Saint Christopher is released on sonaBLAST! records and has just been given heavy national release thanks to the folks at Paste magazine this month."

-Dogs or Whoever