Aztec Two-Step, the duo of Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman , has released a live album, called Highway Signs, and it's good news to anyone who has seen them in concert. As radio personality Pete Fornatale says in the booklet notes, "Aztec must be heard to be fully appreciated, and now, thanks to this album, they can be."
Rex and Neal met at a "hoot night" in Boston in 1971 and decided to join forces. Within a year they were working with producer Jerry Yester (of the Lovin' Spoonful) in LA putting the finishing touches on their album, titled simply Aztec Two-Step, sold over 200,000 copies; remained in print for 15 years, became a staple of FM and college radio, garnered a loyal following, and began a recording and performing career that continues to this day.
In 1986, Bilboard magazine cited Aztec's Living In America in their year-end critic's poll, and the record received the 1987 New York Music Award for best folk album. In 1992, Era Records re-released Aztec's self-titled debut on CD. In 1993, Aztec released their eighth studio record, Of Age, on Beacon Records, an album that reflected a new maturity in their singing and songwriting. Then, from December 1995 to March 1996, Rex and Neal played a series of concerts in and around the New York City area to mark their 25th year of playing together, and these concerts were recorded for their new record Highway Signs.
Aztec has performed with Bruce Springsteen, The Band, Jackson Browne. the Beach Boys, Talking Heads, Bonnie Raitt, Bill Cosby and Suzanne Vega, among others, and hearing Highway Signs makes it clear how they found themselves in such good company.
Bands Official Website: aztectwostep.com
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