chris long

Chris Long's full-length debut follows quickly on the heels of a three-song demo, and further establishes him as a first rate vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. Long and his three bandmates perform 11 well-crafted mainstream rock tunes on this self-titled effort, ranging from the hard-hitting, "Perfect One" and "The Moment" to the acoustic "Angel On My Side." The lyrics tend toward the spiritual side, although Long is wise enough not to hit anyone over the head with his messages. The powerful "One More Day" finds him tapping into his blues roots with help from Paul Mulzabaugh's superb organ playing, while "Mountain" has an enticing exotic arrangement. (Contact: chrislongsongs@hotmail.com.)

-- Terrence Flamm
- Illinois Entertainer - August, 2004

Although it isn't obvious upon initial listening to his recent solo debut, Chris Long was blessed with an early hardcore blues education. Saddled with an older brother who fed him a steady diet of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, Chris picked up the guitar at age twelve and despite lessons from jazz guitarist Roger Brotherhood, focused entirely on the blues throughout his teenage years. By seventeen, his three-year-old band, Cornerstone, had gathered a strong following in Madison, playing sold out shows that showcased Chris' fiery and fluid blues-rock riffs. Comparisons to Stevie Ray Vaughan were inevitable, but Chris says he didn't want to get stuck in one specific genre and felt there was more to him than the blues-rock genre. Still, his masterful way with this energetic idiom drew the attention of Clyde Stubblefield, the funky drummer himself, who helped Cornerstone commit their sound to disc.

Wanting to expand his talents and concentrate on playing original tunes, Chris disbanded Cornerstone and formed the more rock-oriented Jamora Bell. While he would latter reunite Cornerstone and incorporate a wider variety of influences into their shows, Chris would never again settle for being just a top-notch guitar-slinger. He was bitten by the song-writing bug and headed to Minneapolis to do session work and hone his writing skills. While the myth of a self-taught child prodigy is a fascinating one, Chris understood talent would only carry you so far and there is no substitute for hard work and discipline. Chris also understood you had to meet opportunity halfway, so he decided to move to Chicago in hopes of putting together a solo disc of original songs.

By the time Chris hit the Windy City, his influences had far exceeded his brother's old blues records. While his teenage fascination with Hendrix and Clapton are still major factors in his music, Chris currently draws from a wide variety of reference points including Prince, Cab Calloway, Foo Fighters, and Rusted Root. His endless curiosity for musical invention is reflected in his diverse array of songs. His solo disc blends acoustic finger-picking, ferocious slide, and angular electric to show a taste for funky ska, Spanish flamenco, and snaking Middle Eastern psychedelia.

While it was not his original intent, his solo disc also became very much a group effort. Despite the fact that it's his name on the cover and he wrote all eleven tracks, Chris ended up gathering a group of skilled players that feels more like a band than a collection of sidemen. By his own admission, he was never much a solo artist. While several tracks on the disc were put together with two talented session men, the last track is a live cut showcasing his newfound friends blazing through a soulful and bluesy number that highlights the collaborative efforts of four men with a single agenda.

For a chance to see this guitar wizard live and back on his home turf head directly to Madison's High Noon Saloon on November 27th. Chris and his Chicago band will join Clyde Stubblefield to celebrate Black & Tan's eleventeenth birthday bash, and hopefully give us a glimpse of tracks from his forthcoming second disc, a self-produced affair recorded at his newly completed Jungle Sun Studios in Naperville.

- John Noyd

For more information check out www.chrislongmusic.com

For a taste of his past work with Cornerstone, www.cornerstoneblues.com - Maximum Ink

Chris Long's self-titled, three-song EP is made up of melodic rock with a pop sensibility and a strong foundation based on solid songwriting. Lyrically earnest, Long's expressive vocals are perfectly married to his music. Adding drums, if not credibility, to the disc is drummer extraordinaire Matt Walker. If this brief offering is any indication, Long has all the elements in place for a career with longevity. Here's hoping he finds it without compromising his art.
(Contact: chrislongsongs@hotmail.com.)

-- Jaime de'Medici
- Illinois Entertainer