Waco musician Dick Gimble has logged plenty of time playing as a sideman on other people’s albums. Now it’s time for him to take the spotlight.

Gimble, a longtime music instructor in McLennan Community College’s commercial music department and a talented bassist and guitarist, shows off his new CD, All Over the Map, in concerts Friday and Saturday at his Runnin’ Bird Studios near Bosqueville.

Dick Gimble with Emily Gimble and Jon Kutz CD release party

Performance: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Runnin’ Bird Studio, 168 Private Road near Bosqueville.

Tickets: $20, $30 per couple; ticket price includes the CD. Call (254) 754-2445 for reservations.

Dick Gimble

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The musician said the CD started some 14 years ago when he and Waco drummer Jerry Echols of the Morticians went down to an Austin studio to record seven songs. Gimble’s father, Johnny Gimble, contributed some fiddle overdubs, but the cost of studio time quickly exhausted his recording budget.

All Over the Map’s 15 songs cover country, gospel, jazz, western swing, boogie-woogie and Latin styles. Gimble wrote 10 songs, with Johnny Gimble contributing two and three more collaborative efforts with Dean Pankonien, Dane Fowlkes and Dennis Sills. The CD also includes “In Walked Bud” by jazz pianist Thelonius Monk, the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” and Francisco Tarrega’s “Recuerdo de la Alhambra.”

 Ten musicians add instrumental backings, including Johnny Gimble on fiddle and mandolin; Emily Gimble on keyboards; Randy Elmore on fiddle; Rob Page on saxophone;  Jerry Echols, Jon Kutz and Richie Vasquez on drums; and Jeremy Venable, Emily and David Middlebrook on vocals. 

Fast-forward to last year, when an MCC Faculty Jazz Ensemble rehearsal found Gimble the only one without a new song to contribute. “So I did,” he said, using that as incentive to write a few jazz tunes. That, in turn, led to more writing, a 10-day songwriting retreat at a friend’s vacation home in Crested Butte, Colo, an MCC professional development grant and a July spent in his home studio to finish the recording project.

The result, All Over the Map, has four songs co-written with friends and represents musical styles spanning jazz, country, western swing and more. “It’s well-named,” Gimble quipped.

Gimble will play songs from his CD in two concerts at his Runnin’ Bird Studio, joined by his daughter, Emily, on keyboards and vocals and MCC colleague Jon Kutz on drums.

choover@wacotrib.com

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