Linda Chorney

Linda Chorney is a busy girl.
She is an author, an avid scuba
diver as well as golfer. She has
also spent the last 25 years as a
front person and singer. I like the
fact that Chorney is so laid back
and up front when speaking about
herself.A self confessed “cartoon
watcher,” Linda likes to sit around
on the couch in her underwear
and eat ceareal out of the box.
And while Martha Stewart
stalwarts might shake their heads
at that great American tradition, I
say well done Linda and please
pass the Captain Crunch.
Linda Chorney is no stranger
to fame, having come extremely
close to major label status when
she broke the Top 40 Adult
Contemporary Music list in 2002
with her album, Living Alone,
coming in at number 31 and
passing Alanis Morrisette on the
A/C Charts with “Friday Morning
Quarter Back.”
But in this industry, every silver
lining has a dark gray cloud and
when the label ran out of money
she was on her own again. It was
also around the time of 9/11, a
time which took the focus of
entertainment away and replaced
it with the unfathomable horrors
of the greatest tragedy since Pearl
Harbor. Although Linda had
worked hard for that break, she
wasn’t upset. “I was alive, and
nobody I knew lost their lives.”
Chorney bounced back, releasing
five CDs including, My Blunt
Instrument, Racing with Reality,
Me So Chorney and 1 Kiss At A
Time. Her newest release is
entitled Chornographey.
Linda has shared the stage with
luminaries like Paul Simon,
Jackson Browne, Sheryl Crow,
Dave Mason, and others. She has
played in front of 250,000 people,
having had the honor to perform
for Nelson Mandela in Boston.
Linda Chorney now numbers
herself among the elite
independent singer/songwriters
hailing from out of state who now
call the Jersey shore their home.
“I have some lovable fans that
come to just about every
performance.” Though most folks
are there to see the show, she
knows that some might just be out
to find a hot date, but she also
knows that when her music strikes
a chord it makes for all the
difference. And when fans buy a
CD and put it on, she says, “I can
guarantee that someone will make
sweet love to them! Unless they’re
alone–then they can improvise
(laughs).” Catch this cartoon
watcher at The Toms River Festival
on August 3 in Ocean County.For
further information go to
myspace.com/lindachorney. - The Aquarian

A typical Friday on the Jersey Shore usually finds me at McLoone's Rum Runner, tethered
to the piano bar and as close to Mr. Bobby Bandiera. His local gigs have been scarce lately
as he and Bon Jovi have been otherwise engaged, conquering the world. But on one
recent evening he invited to the stage a slender woman in pink plaid golf pants and a
bright orange Yankees ski hat.
And I'm thinking, 'no, please, don't take any time away from Bobby.' But then she
opened her mouth and simultaneously filled the room with her presence. When I asked
her name, she replied "Linda Chorney - Chorney, like horny.“
At night's end I rushed home to look her up on her website, or MySpace, whathaveyou.
As I learned more, I grew more confident that this Boston native in Yankee gear is set
to make a big splash here at the Shore.
And as she sings on Move On, off her album CHORNographEY, "I was put on this earth to
be someone to love a man." I'm considering another possibility: Linda Chorney was put
on this earth to perform.
Linda has been a professional singer/songwriter for the past 25 years. To date, she's independently produced and
released 5 solo albums; My Blunt Instrument, Racing With Reality, Me So Chorney, 1 Kiss at a Time, and the most
recent CHORNographEY.
When you consider the credits of her backing musicians, it's clear that she keeps good company. Guitarist Hugh
McCracken has worked with John Lennon, Lisa Fisher, The Rolling Stones - remember those famous female vocals
behind Gimme Shelter? Local Red Bank resident Michael Ghegan rounds out the high caliber line-up, having toured with
Elton John, Justin Timberlake and, currently, Cirque de Sole.
Linda has seen the world through varying performance venues - from an altitude of 11,000 feet in Vail to sea-level hot
spots in the Virgin Islands. Her adventures have taken her to the base camp of Mount Everest and she's also broken
through markets in Micronesia, Australia, China, Tibet, Bermuda, Europe and Alaska.
Lucky for us, a local resident and self-proclaimed stalker rescued her from the mountain tops and made her fall in love
with him… and the Jersey Shore.
Music purists have described her CD's as "infectious." Her lyrics demand your attention with their originality,
vulnerability, humor, courage, and above all, honesty. She delivers melodic tales with a soothing yet strong voice that
is at once earthy and non-calculating. Storylines are complemented by tonality and instrumentation, illustrating Linda's
journey through her experience and relationships. She sings things most people think but often are reticent to say.
Her catalogue succeeds at being both personal and accessible. Labeling her genre as "dysfunctional rock," her songs go
well beyond traditional singer/songwriter fare. Instead, it's an amalgam of experimental pop rock that showcases her
commanding vocals, songwriting prowess and strong production skills.
"My inspiration comes from relationships, whether I'm depressed, pissed off, bored or
horny. But now that I'm in love, I had to find something else to write about, so I'm
going political."
As a child, Linda was self-taught on guitar. "At ten I took one lesson and then quit,"
she said. "They were teaching scales and notes. I didn't want to learn that. I wanted
to play songs. So I went home and taught myself chords."
She handles her instrument with conviction, confidently attacking rhythm but
dynamically bringing it down to the appropriate level. It wasn't long before this
confident artist gained sponsorship from a guitar company.
"I play with a couple of different guitars. And I play a bit of harmonica. I was
sponsored by a cool company out of New Hampshire, Millennia Guitars. They named a
line after me; "The Linda Chorney Signature Series". How cool is that?
"And I have a sweet 1967 Hummingbird, that an ex-boyfriend was foolish enough to
give me during a break-up. He thought it might relieve some of the guilt for his being
a drunk. I also got a few good songs out of that relationship.
"All in all, the suffering was worth the big pay off! I just had a pick-up installed in it by
Phil Petillo. The dude is a genius! I cannot believe the array of talent in this area, between Phil and the great cast of musicians. That should be enough local brown nosing for now."
Linda comes from a musical family. "I knew I wanted to be a rock star from the womb".
Her mother a concert pianist; her great aunt an opera singer, and her grandfather played mandolin. Resultantly, her
family has always been supportive of Linda's professional aspirations. They always came to gigs, no matter if it were a
resort or a biker bar. They paid for her demo's in the early days. Finally studios rolled the dice that she would make it
big, comping her studio time.
And she came really close to that goal when she broke into the Top 40, at #31, passing Alanis Morrissette on the A/C
Charts on 'Friday Morning Quarter Back'.
"But the label ran out of money. It was around 9/11. Although I'd worked my whole life for that break, I wasn't upset.
I was alive, and nobody I knew lost their's."
After that close shave, she began to collect performance credits, sharing a marquee with the likes of Paul Simon,
Jackson Browne, Sheryl Crow, Dave Mason, and others. She has played in front of 250,000 people, having the honor to
perform for Nelson Mandela in Boston.
Five self-produced albums, a Top 40 track, sponsorship deals, a performance calendar that's spanned the globe and
even a credit on IMDb after her songs and acting appeared in an indie film, Linda Chorney now numbers herself among
the elite independent singer/songwriters who call the Jersey Shore home.
"I have newly found and lovable Jersey fans that faithfully have come to just about every performance. Though it's not
their objective to see a show at every venue - some might be out to find a hot date - so they don't all listen. But there
is that awesome occasion when my music strikes a chord. So I get an increased audience. Then, when they buy a CD
and put it on, I can guarantee that someone will make sweet love to them! Unless they're
alone - then they can improvise (laughs).
"Right now, I'm in the process of putting together a trio with Linc Davis on lead guitar and Richy Blackwell on
percussion… I'm calling us 'The Odd Squad.'“
So if you're convinced and ready to catch a solo show, be prepared for some winging dialogue between songs that will
keep you laughing. Her big voice is an equal match to her large personality."I never have a set list. I just play what I feel, like always. Sometimes I will be in the
middle of one song, while having a conversation in my head about what song I will do
next, or, what should I eat on my break, or when the hell is my break?
"Although I do throw in more current artists occasionally, like, 'what's that guys name
from around here?' I mostly stick to classic rock. My influences are from that era. And
sorry, but no one has come close to touching Zeppelin, Neil Young and The Beatles, not
even me!"
On the other hand, she may bring a tear to your eye as she flies from one extreme to the
other, as life often does. Songs that find relief from pushing through heartache, "It's
better to sing than it is to bleed," from her excruciating break-up song, Looney Bin, are
included in the same set as numbers in which she captures you with her humor.
"I enjoy adverbs, I just don't like the people that drop the 'L' 'Y'. I kinda take it personal
(pause) ly." And although some songs are on the sadder side, there is always a surprising
turn at the end, turning tragedy into triumph.
"Just last Friday I did my song, Fins. It's about an ex-boyfriend that physically hurt me. When I finished, this woman
came up to me with a tear in her eye, kissed me on the cheek and said that I validated her story, and thanked me.
That is more rewarding than getting paid. I love making chicks cry!“
To experience Linda Chorney is to invoke your own past experiences like a photograph, making you long for something
you didn't know you wanted. She can move you like a roller coaster ride, the kind of ups and downs that will make you
scream. This fresh Shore talent will hook you with her wit, wisdom and creativity.
Currently, Linda is focusing on gaining traction in her new market. In her first full season as a resident of the Jersey
Shore, she has secured a number of regular appearances in the area. Look for her at The Fromagerie (Rumson), Salt
Creek Grille (Rumson), McLoone's Rum Runner (Sea Bright), SAWA at Pier Village (Long Branch), and The Clam Hut
(Highlands).
In addition, Linda is currently being courted to host an Adventure, Musical Travel show. She has already filmed a
portion of the pilot in India this past March. - Chours and Verse Online

Emotional Jukebox

What does Linda Chorney have in common with Madonna, David Lettermen and The Blues Brothers? Well, for one thing she has their top musical sidemen on her latest record. Will Lee on bass, Jeff Pevar on guitar (Ray Charles) and drummer Shawn Pelton (Sheryl Crow) just to name a select few. I haven’t witnessed such a world-class roster of band mates for a Jersey-ite recording in a long time and it’s funny because these monster players match the exact speed of Linda Chorney’s musical maverick that she rides reigns free on her journey to the top.

Linda’s voice is welcoming and ‘70s traditional. She combines an organic sensibility that lulls the listener into her world with a lazy, summer day wave. Chorney never has to really pull you into that musical world; you go willingly, curious as to just what this mysterious creature has up her carnival sleeve. And what she finally reveals shows she is a legitimate writer with keen production ears and the precision to combine everything comfortably in her rainbow of emotional potions. Linda is no industry hypocrite and it shows in this easy, breezy self-exposure of human imperfection titled, Emotional Jukebox.

The disc contains a few covers, which can be tricky, as most don’t understand the art of breaking a song down and reconstructing it in their own voice. Chorney slaps that worry on the back with her unique visions of versions such as, “I’m Only Sleeping” by the Beatles, where Chorney hits that lethargically zoned mop top target without copying (or trying to copy) the masters themselves.

Lazily stroked acoustics, wah-washed, muted electrics move in trippy unison with bass lines in the verse bridges, tasteful and out-of-the-way until needed. Her doubled vocal at key junctures is smooth and lush along the lines of The Carpenters, Sheryl Crow and Bette Midler. Fender Rhodes piano in the bridge is mellow and shimmering in vibroluxurious droplets. I really like the fact that the covers she picked were not the obvious Jersey choices that get cloned to death here on the shore. With the recent resurgence of Springsteen wannabes she’s steered clear of that whole crazy clan.

The bounce and country rock rhythmic snap of “Cherries” jumps on the CD player quickly, combining the skilful drum sounds of Shawn Pelton (SNL Band, Sheryl Crow) along with guitarist Jeff Pevar, who creatively blends the pentatonic minor and major, along with the blues scales of a Dwayne Allman alongside the keyboard magic of Andy Burton. Chorney rides the verses fast, her voice more than capable in the storytelling mode of a Joni Mitchell or Carol King as she peppers her delivery with smart lyrical sensibility, laying out the fact that life may be cherry sweet, but you have to get around the pits.

“Finally” is one of the finest cuts on the disc and features Arlan Feiles on vocals and piano. Arlan is one of the most talented cats I know and he works well with Linda. Their voices create a rich, soulful, mid-tempo blend within the hit material melody. Arlan never overplays, instead he digs down deep into his own gene pool of talent to dredge up the good stuff from within, supporting the melody in superb manner and lending a Woodstock vibe to the track as a whole.

Anyone tackling a Zeppelin cover had better have his or her head screwed on correctly and with her version of “Going To California,” Chorney comes in with said head well-attached. The mandolin talents of Ralph Nataro stand up and get noticed easily and Pelton and Pevar anchor this beast of a song, holding down the low-end thunder pretty damn well and making it easy for Burtons Mellotronic conundrums to fly high over their heads and into the bridge. Chorney once again works this out in her own breathy style, orchestrating and placing lush vocals pads with Lisa Fischer (Rolling Stones, Tina Turner) into strategic positions and squeezing every drop of emotional flair out of this dynamic ditty. The nylon stringed guitar work of Hernan Romero (Al Di Meola) is rattlesnake dangerous and he spits out Spanish gypsy scaled licks like a MAC-10 all over the beginning of the end.

Her covers on Emotional Jukebox demonstrate the proper combination of musical admiration and interpretation. She’s complimenting instead of trying to conquer the pieces of her idols, which shows not only a willingness to embrace their greatness, but shows humility and respect to the cats who got the ball rolling in the first place.

“Broken Promised Land” is as close as I’ve heard anyone come as far as combining a good Curtis Mayfield and The Temptations mix and getting it period correct. Lisa Fischer once again helps kick things off with her plaintive animalistic soul wail, the very same one she used on the Stones “Gimme Shelter,” waking it up and directing attention on Chorney’s sexy whisper. Salaciously slipped S’s slide across her lips as the band holds down a stone groove. Linda’s lyrical rap is smooth and cool as she dives into the broken promise land that she commands. The percussion work of Bashiri Johnson dodges artfully between cold shots of Lee Pendarvis Hammond organ and the Congo work of Richie Blackwell. The echo fueled trumpet work of Satish is paramount here as the influential gap sealer in this old school sexy funk number.

If you want the most fun you can have in the studio without getting arrested you’ll get it on “Do It While You Can,” a raucous 1920s ragtime flapper-styled romp complete with brassy, sassy muted stripper horns and Louie Armstrong-styled scatting courtesy of Richie Blackwell (Bruce Springsteen). Linda struts her stuff singing, “Is it hot or is it me? I’m not sayin’ that I’m hot like a babe… although I am,” while Richie Blackwell holds down the baritone to the bone before the band breaks out into full regalia. The only thing missing on this song is prohibition as the band swings, horns kicking into Leone Redbone boom, chicka boom territory. The interactive dialogue between Blackwell and Chorney near the end is a riot and definitely one of the real deal highlights of the disc.

There are other cool tunes, including bonus material and artwork that I don’t have space for, but the thing I want to mention that I noticed about Emotional Jukebox is the overall labor of love that you feel when listening along. Every note and every arrangement has been combed with caring detail and passion. Theres no stock filler anywhere and the songs have a natural flow and purpose throughout. With the backing of executive producer “The Roc Dock” Jonathan Schneider and her own take on Art, travel, heartbreak and humor, the songs sit five by five in this frolicking line up of life.

On her website she describes her writing as that of “experiences behind songs filled with her adventures around the world, and her dysfunctional relationships.” And while to some hipsters that might sound self-absorbed or contrite, Linda sums it up well when she says, “Just because it happened to me, it doesn’t necessarily make it interesting, but sometimes, putting it to music does.”

Linda Chorneys approach on Emotional Jukebox has the urgency of an artist that has tasted near fame, reaching a coveted AC Top 40 rating in 2002 with her song, “Living Alone” and looking to repeat that high point process on this, her sixth full length disc.

For further information on Linda Chorney, the amazing artist line up that played on her record and her continuing musical journey, head over to lindachorney.com.

- The Aquarian