YOURSELF has been performing in the San Diego area since 1978, and have been hosts and producers of the cable TV show YOURSELF presents: an original music showcase since 1988.
YOURSELF consists of the husband and wife team, Howard and Diane Anshell, who have over 60 years of performing experience between them.
Diane Anshell is the lead vocalist and flute player. She has been playing the flute for over 30 years and teaching for twenty-five of those. Her unique blend of jazz, rock and classical influences has made her one of San Diego’s most versatile and vibrant flutists. She has performed hundreds of times in various musical venues ranging from classical to rock and has even experimented with avant-garde flute techniques such as those pioneered by Robert Dick and others. All of these influences have served to give Diane her own unique flute solo style which is both melodic and technically sophisticated, yet at the same time intuitively accessible. Her amiable vocal style and charismatic performance radiate positive vibrations that are simply contagious, while her virtuosity serves to impress even the most musically knowledgeable audience.
Howard Anshell is the guitarist/bassist and the song writer of YOURSELF. His writing reflects a cornucopia of blues, jazz and rock influences, and in his 36 years of playing he has never stopped searching for new ideas and directions to take his music. Howard has been teaching guitar and bass for over 31 years and in 34 years as a professional musician has appeared in many bands as both guitarist and bassist, and has done studio work and casuals for musicians of diverse styles.
Howard and Diane formed YOURSELF in 1979 shortly after they got married and moved to San Diego. YOURSELF is dedicated to exploring new directions for flute & guitar music. Their sound can be alternately lyrical and spacey, and then turn around into frenetic and even chaotic. YOURSELF songs remind us not to take ourselves too seriously, but not to lose our sense of wonder.
YOURSELF often performs as a duo, but also sometimes adds various configurations of other musicians to form a larger band, with drums, bass and/or other instrumentalists who add new directions and fill out the sound, but no matter the size of the band, there can only ever be one YOURSELF. After all, people are always telling you to find YOURSELF, listen to YOURSELF and trust YOURSELF; it’s OK to love YOURSELF!
Anshell's Guitar and Bass Guitar Lessons 