On Bluesand Edward wanted to give equal voice to sitar, fretless guitar, and oud, as well as stylistically equal space for Indian, North African, and Bluesy influences. The result is definitely rhythmic and catchy. There are no ballads on this record but each tune is gentle in its grooviness. Friedsitar's Scott White contributes with some unbelievable bass playing and strong compositional ideas.

Multi-talented world percussionist Patrick Feldner, Edward's longtime intimate collaborator definitely provides Bluesand's solid backbone, in fact the entire Cd was composed using Pat's drum grooves as a foundation. Pat also contributed many conceptual ideas, and a melodic theme on 'kalimba' (in "Megh"). In many ways Bluesand is the first of it's kind, more than likely to be remembered as somewhat of a 'blueprint' for many Edward Powell CDs to follow... at least that is the author's sincere intent. Please, listen on...

A versatile and talented percussionist native to Vienna, Pat began as many others as a progressive rock drummer. Before long Pat began travelling to India for long periods and while there acquired a profound attraction to Buddhism. Since then Pat dedicated his efforts entirely in the direction of Oriental percussion. This inspiration began first with an intensive period of tabla study and later Persian and Arabic drumming. Pat now performs in a wide variety of venues and with several top Austrian World music, Celtic, and Early music groups.

A dynamic and highly creative bassist from Canada, Scott began playing and singing rock but turned to jazz and classical music by his late teens. After years of study at various institutions including Banff School of Fine Arts, McGill University and with celebrated teachers such as Dave Holland and Joel Quarrington, he toured much of the world with various ensembles. Scott and Edward have a long history and friendship behind them which comes across on Bluesand as a great musical connection.

One of the great Indian tabla legends claimed that Friedemann is the best European tabla player. From the age of 12 he studied with Pandit Shanka Chatterjee (the renowned tablist who accompanied Vilayat and Imrat Khan on all of their first European tours of the early 50's) as Shanka has been a music professor in Berlin for decades. On 'Yammat', Bluesand's final track, Friedemann renders an astonishing, full power solo and fully inspired accompaniment recorded live with Scott - not to be missed!

Karin Gelnarová - voice

Edward and Karin met in 2002 when Edward chanced to see her perform with one of Czech finest pianists in the duo "Lecba Neklidem" (translated meaning: "cure through disturbance"). Edward was greatly impressed by her voice and the two became friends. Balancing maternal dutys with music Karin is one of Czech's most respected jazz singers.

Mario Reithofer - fender rhodes

Mario is a talented and versatile keyboard player and a technical enthusiast. Bluesand (on which Mario play bluesy rhodes on three tracks) was largely created in his TSAMM Recording Studio. The recording project GURUGROOVE which began in 2003, with Edward, Pat Feldner, and Mario, was completed in 2004 by Pat and Mario with the aid of and Austrian music/arts grant.