PLEASE HAVE LINDA SHANTOVITCH CONTACT ME
author: NAJI SINGH
I AM WORKING ON GETTING BALUJI A RECORDING WITH PANDIT SAMIR CHATTERJEE IN NEW YORK. MY EMAIL IS ssathrnami@yahoo.com.........thanx Chris.
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a gentle and reflective album, deftly played and expressively sung.
author: Holding Together Magazine
Those of you who saw Jefferson Starship when they played at Market Harborough last year may have been lucky enough to catch Chris Conway and Dan Britton opening the gig that ight with a fine support set. If you enjoyed that, you are bound to like this , Chris's eighth solo album.
It's actually been a few years since the last collection of new songs ; in between Chris has explored electronic and ambient music. So this is a very welcome return - and the title "Close the Circle" is in part a recognition that Conway is returning to the song-writing muse that spawned his album "Sounds Like Rain"
To further develop the circle motif, the album is devided into thematic quadrants (0 degrees - Future/Summer, 90 degrees - Pas/Autumn, 180 degrees = Blood/Winter, and 270 degrees - Love/Spring) and the songs of each quartile are linked to that section's theme.
Chris played all the instruments himself (acoustic and electric guitars, piano, keyboards, theremin, kalimba, zither, whistles and percussion) except for the fretless bass which was provided by Neil Segrott on four tracks. He also handled all of the vocals including the harmonies - which are really stunning.
Chris has always been a big fan of Jefferson Airplane, Crosby Stills & Nash, the Mamas & the Papas and the whle West Coast harmony sound they produced and it is that sensibility that infuses these recordings - David Crosby, James Taylor, and CS&N are the obvious reference points for Chris's voice and layered harmonies he lays down. But in addition tot he shimmering CS&N approach, the structure of soem of the songs is also highly reminiscent of the way Grace Slick was writing in the 1980s (from "Dreams" right through to "Common Market Madrigal" on the Airplane reunion album)
Close the Circle is a gentle and reflective album, deftly played and expressively sung. "I Cast My Soul", Wake Me Up When It's Over", "Empty House Time Machine" and "Dreaming of You" are your reviewers favourite cuts but this is really a most impressive recording and you are urged to check it out at www.chrisconway.org.
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this impressively produced set deserves to reach a wider audience.
author: Maverick Magazine
Born in the United States but based in Leicester; multi-instrumentalist and writer Chris Conway issues ambitious solo project.
Chris Conway is arguably the pick of Leicestershire based singer songwriters. He is a naturally creative musician; equally accomplished on guitar, piano, or Celtic sounding whistles and effects.
Conway's main problem may be his versatility; this music isn't easily pigeon holed. A look at his back catalogue reveals a plethora of releases; including eight instrumental (jazz, ambient, world) and eight previous solo 'song' albums.
Vocally he recalls David Crosby; with his smooth delivery teetering on the edge of Jazz. Indeed, anyone who enjoys Crosby's side project, CPR or Marc Cohn, will find this release very much to their taste.
Close The Circle's twelve songs are divided into four sections introduced by brief instrumental snatches; Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. An Old Fashioned Future is a fine song with its acoustic guitars, percussion and perfectly layered harmonies. The Celtic sounding Songrise, breezy and optimistic; captures the 'summer' vibe; 'Let the winter take its toll, I feel a change in the wind …'
The autumn section is equally impressive with perhaps Castle, Seed & Candle being the standout here. Winters' The Great Escapist is a tour de force with a gorgeous mid-tempo melody; very reminiscent of Joni Mitchell. Neil Segrott excels on bass here too.
Arguably the real highlights are when Chris pairs down the instrumentation for a stark piano number like Empty House Time Machine, where the author revisits his past. Brilliant song!
Another standout track for me is Springs' Homecoming. Again this piano ballad has a beautiful melody and a lyric of contentment; 'with this new found wisdom and the love of good friends the journey never really ends.'
Recorded at home, and in San Francisco, this impressively produced set deserves to reach a wider audience.
John Brindle - Maverick Magazine
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one of the UK music scene's best kept secrets
author: Rock n Reel Magazine
Leicester-based American singer-songwriter Chris Conway is, bemusingly, one of the UK music scene's best kept secrets. A prolific talent, Conway can turn his hand to roots, pop, folk, jazz, New Age, Celtic and electronic musical styles, sounding entirely at home in all of them.
I discovered one of his early song-based albums back in the 90s and have been a fan ever since. A great voice, and a writer of stylish, easy-on-the-ear material, his considerable abilities as an arranger and producer ensure that quality control remains in-house and at a very high level. That his recordings are, in the main, self -released too, merely confirms that Conway knows what he's doing, and that he does it very well indeed.
His latest collection of songs epitomises all those attributes. A masterclass in the DIY approach to music making. I usually end my reviews of his recordings musing as to the shortsightedness of major labels in letting this genuine talent pass them by. This one's no different.
Dave White - Rock n Reel Magazine
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