Peter Novelli

Peter is currently performing with:

• Sammy Naquin & The Zydeco Whips, the music of Louisiana
• Peter Novelli & The BlueRide, where blues meets jazz on the funky edge
• The Getters, a rock-blues-roots power trio 
• Peter Novelli solo guitar, interpreting selected standards and originals

Songs

Guitarist Peter Novelli, now based in New Orleans, works in a range of styles and likes to absorb diverse musical influences.

Peter began study of violin at age 6, took up guitar at 13 after hearing a BB King record. The intensity, passion and raw emotional content of some of the blues masters (black and white, American and British) stuck in Peter’s ear and that is what drives him to this day. He likes to combine this feel with some of the harmonic ideas of jazz, and the relentless groove of zydeco, along with just about any cool and unusual style of music or rhythm that works for the project at hand.

Early influences, along with B.B., were George Barnes, Johnny Smith, Mike Bloomfield, early Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Freddie King, James Burton, Clarence White, Carl Perkins, T-Bone Walker, Roy Buchanan, Gatemouth Brown. Peter was also strongly influenced by some of the iconic jazz horn players.

Peter played in Syracuse, NY rock, blues and country bands. Peter frequented, gigged and jammed at the legendary and now-defunct Jabberwocky club (which hosted many icons from Townes Van Zandt to Gatemouth Brown to Bonnie Raitt to Buddy Guy to Albert Collins to Jackson Browne to James Brown!) Once, an early morning session had Peter jamming with "God"himself (whom Peter failed to recognize at first...Eric was near the end of Derek & The Dominos only tour). Several years ago after his band opened for Buckwheat Zydeco he began to absorb the zydeco and cajun influences, traveling to New Orleans and S.W. Louisiana, playing and jamming with some of the leaders in zydeco and cajun music including Roy Carrier, T. Broussard, Walter Mouton, Steve Riley, Lisa Trahan, Christine Balfa, Marc Savoy, etc. 

During this time Peter could also be spotted sitting in or jamming with artists as diverse as Barrence Whitfield (and The Savages), Whoopi (yeah, she can sing), guitarist-genius David Brown (Billy Joel, Simon and Garfunkel, McCartney, etc), blues harpist Kenny Dore (Maria Muldaur, Big Bill Morganfield).  Peter also played in a band that included one of his favorite bassists, the L.A. multi-instrumentalist Kalani (Keith Porter & The Itals, English Beat).

Several years ago Peter got a call to work with the Louisiana accordionist Sammy Naquin.  Sammy mixes cajun, zydeco, blues, New Orleans R&B and just about anything to create a hot musical "gumbo" with a strong dance groove. 

Peter currently makes his home in New Orleans and tours with Louisiana-based Sammy Naquin & The Zydeco Whips, sometimes with guest and fiddle-guitar virtuoso Al Berard (Grammy nominated: The Basin Brothers, LesTraiteurs, Sonny Landreth, etc). Peter fronts his blues-jazz-funk trio The BlueRide (based in New Orleans).  Peter  continues to play special gigs with New York-based The Getters, a blues-rock-roots power trio. He also performs on solo guitar, does session work, composes music and guests with various other bands and performers.

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Rent my house on the North Coast of DR overlooking Sosua Bay

Los Cerros is a beautiful, peaceful, quiet, shady, breezy neighborhood in the hills above Los Charamicos. 15 minute walk down a steep winding road and across highway Duarte to Sosua Beach, a 1000 meter crescent with palm trees and fabulous swimming and snorkeling. The house has spectacular views of ocean and sky, and sunsets can be stunning. Out over the ocean you can see Montagna de Isabella de Torres, one of the rugged peaks of the Cordillera Setentrional mountains. There are mahogany and palm trees, many species of birds, small harmless lizards (anoles and gekkos), cattle (vacas) or horses (caballos) grazing about the house. Nice neighbors, too.

A mile down the highway is the little town of Sosua, built in 1940s by European immigrants. To this day there are european-style cafes, bakeries and shops -- blended with and surrounded by the Dominican culture. Lots of dining, night life and dancing. Several miles east is the international windsurfing and kitesurfing destination of Cabarete.

Rental Rates for Our House:
- $525/WEEK November thru April
- $600/MONTH May to November

Email me and I'll forward a big pdf file with more info.
Let me know what dates you're interested in for availability.

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Peter Novelli
P.O. Box 3386
New Orleans, LA 70117

607-279-5423
peternovelli@gmail.com

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Links

Steve Novelli Guitars

Demeter Amplification

Sonny Landreth

Duke Robillard

David Brown

Robben Ford

Sammy Naquin

Al Berard

Joe Krown

Gatemouth Brown

Allen Toussaint

Fats Domino

Wayne Shorter