New York Lawyer-Turned-Musician, Bill Scorzari’s ‘Now I’m Free’ Out Today, Produced by Neilson Hubbard, w/ Erin Rae, Will Kimbrough

Bill Scorzari Releases His 3rd Studio Album, Now I’m Free, September 20, 2019

Produced by Neilson Hubbard at Skinny Elephant Recording,With Performances by Erin Rae, Will Kimbrough, Eamon McLoughlin, Michael Rinne

Out Now →   https://nowimfree.hearnow.com

Huntington, NY —  With a raw and gritty sound, along with a stellar ear for lyrics and composition, New York native Bill Scorzari independently releases his third full-length album of all original music, Now I’m Free, on September 20. Produced by Neilson Hubbard (Orphan Brigade), Now I’m Free was recorded and mixed by engineer Dylan Alldredge at Skinny Elephant Recording in Inglewood, TN and mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studios.

Hubbard says, “Bill tears himself open on these 15 songs and leaves it all out there in plain sight. He is an open book delivering a record of astonishing intimacy… and the gravel and whispers in his voice carry a true knockout punch.”

Scorzari’s songs transition through a multitude of emotions centered on the experiences of the human condition and are, at times, downright sad. Of his music, some say it’s spoken word, and others, an amalgam of the voice of Tom Waits, the delivery of Sam Baker, and the soul of Kris Kristofferson. In his lyrics, there is a poetic grace, a calming and resigned wisdom of acceptance that shines through the wistful melancholy of hope, and breaks free. 

Bill says of the record, “During the past three years and beyond, I found myself in a place that demanded prolonged introspection and profound healing to be able to navigate through and journey past. This record is a journal of some of the lessons and discoveries that I’ve encountered along the way.”

Kind Words About Now I’m Free:

“delicately nuanced” with “detailed arrangements”
—Billboard, Gary Graff, Exclusive Interview and Full Album Stream

“There are poets, there are songwriters, there are painters of fine art, and there’s Bill Scorzari. The new album, Now I’m Free is a bold and delicate balance of each. To say it is a thing of beauty is an understatement… To compare Now I’m Free to the other albums released at this time would be unfair to the industry. Perhaps Dylan or Townes could go toe to toe, but my money’s on Scorzari. He makes me want to be a better writer. His writing is vivid and succinct.” —Making A Scene!, Viola Krouse

“There may be a handful of songwriters as good as Scorzari but no one else could deliver these stunning songs. It’s even deeper and every bit as good as his last one. Bigger names will get more recognition but Scorzari’s getting there. He did play the Newport Folk Festival this year. He has my vote for Americana Album of the Year.” —Glide, Jim Hynes

This new album simply blows me away… you might want to think about Tom Waits a little, but better… The thing that impresses me is, of course, is the fact that [Bill’s] voice is very distinctive, there is no question about the fact, that if someone hears this, hears this music, hears your new album, they are gonna know: this is Bill Scorzari, because there’s not many people that have this voice and evoke this kind of emotion.
—Mostly Folk, WIOX Catskills Cafe, Artie Martello

Bill says “I could feel some of the old 1970s ‘country rock’ (Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels Band…) influences from my youth welling up and flowing out and that made writing this song a whole lot of fun.”
—The Bluegrass Situation premiered the uptempo “Treat Me Kind”

“A stunning work. Bill’s poetic lyrics are a frozen rope to the heart.”
—Podcast interview on The Marinade with Jason Earle

“With a somber musical style and a hushed, gritty vocal that rises like the morning mist to mingle with Erin Rae’s grounded tones, ‘It All Matters’ is just outright pretty. Now I’m Free should be nominated for awards this year with its depth of grace and innovative tones; Scorzari taps into a nexus between the familiar and the uncanny.”
—Americana Highways Song Premiere of “It All Matters,” Melissa Clarke

“Like the songs on his last CD… the ones here are all original, deeply personal and affecting; and Scorzari’s earthy vocals, which are just a bit less sandpapery than Dave Van Ronk’s, drive them home. With any luck, this guy is going places, and chances are, you’ll want to follow along for the ride.”  
—The Morton Report, Americana Highways, Jeff Burger

“Like singer-songwriters, Kris Kristofferson, Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits, Bill’s raspy baritone snarls, hisses, and whispers through his heartfelt lyrics. Sometimes leaving the melody and just speaking the words, he comes off like a modern-day Rod McKuen, sweeping us up in his narratives and wringing out their plaintive content.
—WTCA 106.1 FM & 1050 AM, South Bend Tribune, Kathy Bottorf

“Fans of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and anyone who likes quality song writing will dig this” —Live Music News and Review, Phil Simon

“A superb singer/songwriter with an outlaw rasp and a heavy-hearted soul”
—The Ripple Effect

“Wonderfully gruff and oozing with emotion and raw honesty.”
—Listening Through The Lens, Rob Dickens

“Singer-songwriter Bill Scorzari skates in the ether with a sort of Ry Cooder ambient dream. But his voice is absolutely of the earth with its whiskey-borne rasp. Scorzari sings in the folk tradition of those who aren’t afraid to jerk a few tears but doesn’t mask his intentions or pull any punches. Sometimes the man gets mean.”
—Rochester City Newspaper, Frank De Blase

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More about Bill Scorzari and Now I’m Free:

Bill Scorzari. Photo by Jim Marchese

The album was performed live in the studio by Scorzari and a long list of critically acclaimed and otherwise notable musicians including, Hubbard on drums/percussion and piano, multi-instrumentalist Will Kimbrough, vocalist Erin Rae (Americana Music Association nominee for Best Emerging Artist of 2019), fiddler/strings Eamon McGloughlin (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), upright and electric bass player Michael Rinne (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), Brent Burke on Dobro, Juan Solorzano on electric guitar and lap steel, lap steel player and vocalist Megan McCormick, Greg Krockta on harmonica, and vocalist Mia Rose Lynne.

Throughout the entire album, Bill’s authenticity as a songwriter moves you through his music breath by breath. Profound and poetic, Scorzari’s emotionally charged and introspective compositions are sung with a knowing tenderness of heart. 

Bill transformed his life at a later age from being a New York trial lawyer turned full-time musician. In 2008, he stumbled upon a Live-at-Paste recording of Justin Townes Earle performing “Mama’s Eyes.” The song resonated within his soul and sparked the kind of life-altering moment that you hear a person speak of, that singular moment when everything changed. Although he picked up his first guitar at just 8 years old, it wasn’t until 2011 that he was able to give his artistry the attention it deserves. 

The passing of Bill’s father and role-model, whose footsteps he had followed into the practice of law, marked a time of profound change and opened a new chapter – one that required a giant leap towards pursuing a passion that had long been tucked away in Bill’s heart. Bill put out his first album, Just the Same, in 2014, followed by Through These Waves (produced by Jonah Tolchin) in 2017. The three albums (and their titles) that he created thereafter, represent the narrative and catharsis of his journey: past, present and future.

The success of his first two records allowed Bill to share stages with Sarah Jarosz, Sam Outlaw, The Dustbowl Revival, Tall Tall Trees, Seldom Scene, Billy Strings, Frank Fairfield, Tom Marion, Zak Sokolow, Jonah Tolchin, Jenni Lyn Gardner (Della Mae), Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, Twisted Pine, Whiskey Myers, Big Country, and others. In July of 2019, Bill became “One of the folk,” with his inaugural performance at the Newport Folk Festival.

This third installment in his discography, Now I’m Free, offers a deeper and unguarded look into Scorzari’s soul, weathered and bared, and rooted in the present moment while moving freely into the unspoken promises of the future.

For more information, up-dates and news, please visit www.billscorzari.com, www.facebook.com/billscorzari, www.twitter.com/BillScorzari, and www.instagram.com/billscorzari.

Now I’m Free Track Listing:

1. Into the Light of the Day (5:07)
2. Over Again (4:40)
3. Now I’m Free (3:44)
4. It All Matters (4:35)
5. One More Time (4:07)
6. When Will My Time Come Along (3:58) 
7. Treat Me Kind (3:23)
8. San Miguel County (4:36)
9. It’s Just What I Know (4:47)
10. Steel Wheels (4:48)
11. You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone (2:59)
12. Yes I Will (10:51)
13. Cypress Tree (3:37)
14. Don’t You Ever Go Away From Me (4:20)
15. New Mexico (I to Mine) (7:20)

PERFORMANCE CREDITS BY MUSICIAN
Bill Scorzari: Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Erin Rae: Harmony Vocal (Track 4)
Mia Rose Lynne: Harmony Vocals (Tracks 2, 14)
Will Kimbrough: Electric Guitar (Tracks 5, 7, 10, 15), Slide Guitar (Track 7), Mandolin (Track 11), Cigar Box Guitar (Track 14), Piano (Track 5)
Juan Solorzano: Electric Guitar (Tracks 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12), Lap Steel Guitar (Tracks 2, 8, 9, 11), 2nd Acoustic Guitar (Tracks 4, 15)
Megan McCormick: Lap steel (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 13), Harmony Vocal (Track 6)
Brent Burke: Dobro
Greg Krockta: Harmonica
Michael Rinne: Upright Bass & Electric Bass
Neilson Hubbard: Drums/Percussion, Piano (Track 14)

All songs, lyrics and music written, arranged and performed by Bill Scorzari

For more information, up-dates and news, please visit www.billscorzari.com, www.facebook.com/billscorzari, www.twitter.com/BillScorzari, and www.instagram.com/billscorzari.