‘ LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE ’

GUITAR SHOP OWNER RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

Drew Winn, owner of Guitar House of Tulsa, released his self-titled debut album this past November. e collection of 13 songs was recorded in Nashville and produced by Winn’s good friend, noted session musician Tom Bukovac. Packed with Music City talent, “Drew Winn” was mixed by six-time Grammy award-winning record producer and engineer Vance Powell, whose credits include Phish, Chris Stapleton and Jack White. Inspired by an impromptu jam between Winn and Bukovac, the album gives a whole new meaning to playing music with friends.

Although Winn picked up the guitar at 14 and wrote his rst song at 15, he’s never given much thought to recording his work in the decades that followed. In fact, he’s rarely performed publicly in recent years. All of that began to change last year when Winn stopped for the night at Bukovac’s Nashville home en route to a trade show in Orlando.

Pulling out guitars, Bukovac asked Winn to play a song he knew Winn had been working on, jumping in to provide improvised lead accompaniment. Winn recounts Bukovac’s playing sounded like angels, and that suddenly the song took on two lives instead of just one.

Bukovac told Winn they should make a record. After a clinking of bottles, it was decided.

Two months later, they recorded the album. Bukovac, who’s played with everyone from Vince Gill and Ann Wilson to Tom Petty and Faith Hill, booked studio time and gathered an A-list group of players. Winn and his music were the remaining ingredients.

“ e session can only be described as capturing lightning in a bottle,” Winn says. “ e musicians were all in, and all on.”

It was an unforgettable experience for Winn, who’s quick to acknowledge all the talented individuals who contributed to the project. e result is an exceptional debut release of nuanced Americana with beautifully crafted lyrics and, unsurprisingly, outstanding production.

“ ere are some similarities between a few of the songs, lyrically and thematically. But sonically, it’s very diverse,” Winn says, noting track four’s similarity in sound to “ e Cure” and track ve’s Traveling Wilburys country vibe.

For more information, visit drewwinn.com. Catch a performance March 3 at the Tap Room at Marshall Brewing Co., 1742 E. Sixth St. TP

Riffs On The Road

Actress/rocker Sam Quartin has been a Tulsan about a year, technically, but last fall she finally settled into her new home with husband John Swab, a native Tulsan and filmmaker, after recording a new album and touring with her band The Bobby Lees as well as acting in Swab’s horror film “Candy Land.”

She took part in an online Q&A to discuss her music and movies, plus settling into Tulsa and more.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT LIVING HERE?

We had a show in Georgia and the band was flying in. I was driving over by myself, which I do a lot. I got to Oklahoma, and I got something stuck under my tire and I had to pull over. This guy pulls over and just hops under my car. That’s not what he does for a living. He just takes the thing out of my tires, which was so nice. I say, “Thank you,” and he says, “That’s how we do it down here, ma’am.” Then he drove off. We’re in New York, like no one’s stopping for you. It’s hard to find someone who will help.

I love it for routing, too. It’s a dream out of here. Out of any states, I feel like this is the best because we can go east or west from here. So we’re planning in the spring to start touring this new record. We’re (routing) from here then starting in Chicago then going for a couple of weeks, and then a week off here, which is great. Then doing it again in the west, and I think we’re gonna end one of them in Tulsa. — TIM LANDES

THE BOBBY LEES RETURN TO TULSA ON MAY 13 FOR A CONCERT AT THE VANGUARD. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THEVANGUARDTULSA.COM

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