THE BIO:  Anny Celsi (pronounced "Chelsea") began her musical upbringing in the shadow of the Portland freeways, infusing its rain-soaked, caffeine-rock culture with the girl-pop sounds of Phil Spector, Dusty Springfield and Ellie Greenwich. She spent her teenage years as a writer and vaudeville performer with the acclaimed avante-garde Storefront Theatre, after which, several inches short of the Las Vegas showgirl minimum, she turned her attention to songwriting. She was a founding member of the L.A. boy/girl pop-rock band The Tearjerkers, which released a 7" single back in the 1900’s now highly prized by collectors. Anny’s next band, Annyland, released an independent CD, "She Walks In," which garnered rave reviews, quickly achieving frequent rotation on over 200 college stations nationwide, while their video of the same song became a staple with indie video programmers.

After Annyland, Anny continued to write, record and perform, drawing bandmates from the vibrant pool of musicians and songwriters lining the star-paved streets of Los Angeles.  Her unique twist of phrase and undeniable melodic hooks attracted the attention of other artists to her songs as well.  Curb Records artist Jana made “Shovelful of Dirt” a highlight of her nationwide concert tour.  Folk festival favorite Claudia Russell picked up “Whiskey Walk” for her debut release “Song Food,” a move which resulted in Anny’s first BMI check (for $11.70).  And at a listening party hosted by producer Marvin Etzioni, alt-country diva Grey Delisle heard Anny sing “’Twas Her Hunger Brought Me Down,” a song inspired by a Theodore Dreiser novel. That song ended up on Grey’s self-released “Homewrecker."  Anny’s own recording of the song is also featured on “Chapter One: Songs Inspired By Literature,” a compilation CD to benefit adult literacy, along with such artists as Aimee Mann, Suzanne Vega, Grace Slick and Bruce Springsteen.

 “Little Black Dress & Other Stories” started out as a two-song project to help home-town friend Kevin Jarvis try out his new recording studio.  As the months went on and the song list continued to grow, Jarvis, a sought-after drummer who has toured and recorded with Steve Wynn, John Wesley Harding, Grant Lee Phillips, Lucinda Williams, Shawn Mullins and Ben Vaughn, turned out to be a tasteful and inspired producer/engineer as well.  He was also instrumental in bringing some premier musical talent to the table, including Randy Weeks (Lonesome Strangers), Phil Parlapiano (John Prine, Rod Stewart, Tracy Chapman), Robert Lloyd (Steve Wynn, Victoria Williams, John Wesley Harding), Bill Bonk (Aimee Mann, Grant Lee Buffalo) and Hank Van Sickle (John Mayall).  Along with contributions from Steve Barton (Translator) and Adam Pike (The Syrups), who regularly play in Anny’s Black Dress Band, the CD was nearly complete.  Two songs previously recorded with Etzioni were included, one of which, “Little Black Dress,” expresses the spirit of the entire album:  “No matter what life throws at you, you’ve got to put on your little black dress and keep going.  The woman in these songs can change a tire in that dress if she has to.  And she’ll still look good, and she won’t spill her martini, either.”

Following the release of the album, Anny performed throughout the Southern California area as well as other parts of the U.S.  She appeared at the Blue Highways Festival in The Netherlands as a guest of Duane Jarvis, and also toured on a co-bill with Jarvis on a route that took them from Nashville to L.A. and Portland.  In 2007 she embarked on a self-booked tour of England, accompanied by German Americana artist Markus Rill and his band, The Gunslingers.  Other artists she has shared the stage with include Amy Rigby, Steve Forbert, Tish Hinojosa, Randy Weeks and Peter Mulvey.  Her few minutes onstage at Blue Highways introduced her to European listeners, who made "Little Black Dress" a staple on the roots music charts in Holland, Belgium and the U.K.  That show also brought her to the attention of German record label Taxim, which released the CD on their own label the following year.

To record her followup album, "Tangle-Free World," Anny tapped the talents of Nelson Bragg, an in-demand drummer, percussionist and vocalist, whose own debut CD "Day Into Night" had recently established him as a formidable producer and arranger as well.  Bragg, who plays with Brian Wilson's band (he was featured on Wilson's "Smile" and "Lucky Old Sun" albums), brought to the studio bandmates Nick Walusko, Probyn Gregory (also of the Wondermints), Scott Bennett and Brett Simons.  Also contributing to album are Evie Sands, Carl Byron, Amy Farris, Adam Marsland, Robbie Rist, Phil Parlapiano and Anny's own son, Ivan Pyzow.  Continuing in the pop-noir vein of "Little Black Dress," the music on "Tangle-Free World" retains Anny's unique "beatnik cool" feel while expanding her musical landscape, with influences ranging from Jimmy Webb and Lee Hazlewood to The Byrds, Dusty Springfield and Burt Bacharach. 

Anny toured England in the summer of 2009 with Nelson Bragg.  Their self-styled 'Rolling Thunder Revue' incorporated guest appearances by some of the UK's best-loved songwriters and musicians: Daniel Wylie, Paul Steel, Richard Snow, The Fast Camels, members of The Pearlfishers, The See See, The Brighton Beach Boys, Night Parade, Lol Brunning and Nico Wouters.  Their travels took them to audiences in Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leicester, Swindon, Brighton, Hastings, London and -finally - Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain.  Plans are underway for a tour of Holland and Belgium in Spring of 2010.

DISCOGRAPHY:

Releases:

Tangle-Free World, Taxim Records/Ragazza, 2009.
Little Black Dress & Other Stories, Ragazza Music, 2003/Taxim Records (Germany) 2005
She Walks In  (Annyland) - AsFab Music, 1996
The Tearjerkers, 45 rpm single - 1987 (out of print)

Songs on Compilations:

"Summer Fling" on Rock n' Roll Mamas, Rockmama Films, 2006
"Twas Her Hunger Brought Me Down" on Chapter One: Songs Inspired by Literature, The SIBL Project, 2002
"Drag The River" on Best of the Mixed Bag, WUNH 91.3, Durham NH - 1997 (out of print)

Songs Covered by Other Artists:

"Twas Her Hunger" - Grey De Lisle, Homewrecker - Hummin' Bird Records, 2002/Bootlegger - Vol 1 (live) - Hummin' Bird Records, 2003
"Whiskey Walk" - Claudia Russell, Song Food, Radio Rhythm Records, 2000
"Little Black Dress" - Penny Jo Pullus, My Barn Having Burned, I Can Now See The Moon, 2008