Heartland Variations
Christopher Jones
© Copyright-Christopher Jones
(884501273343)
Record Label: Christopher Jones
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The album revisits themes now classified as Americana, with composition dates that range from 1978 to 2009. Black Earth is an elegy for the family farm, while Question of Style details lessons to be learned from the mighty Mississippi. Among new compositions, Gas It Up unfashionably celebrates big cars and cheap gas, while Dakota Territory remembers homestead days in the upper Midwest, when houses were made of sod, and the prairie wind brought life or death, depending on the season.
Jones plays acoustic and electric guitars, bass, and cello. Brother Jeffrey, who sings harmony on may of the tracks, has accompanied him since the two played together in a 1977 Amsterdam hotel gig. Sister Karen and her partner Bev Futrell are the core of the long-running Reel World band and contribute harmonies, fiddle, mandolin and harmonica. Cousin Dave Gillespie added a hot guitar solo on Gas It Up, and Uptown Combo partner Jack Bowen puts some Honky Tonk piano on I Work Hard for a Livin’. Mark Weakland, often found on stage with The Newlanders, Peter King, or Heather Kropf, came in last and added drums and percussion.
Heartland is drawn from the songwriter’s own background: the Midwest, the core, people and places that are loved. Variations means diversity, but also the unexpected, as well as the classical musical sense of seeing how far a theme can be taken before it breaks.
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highly recommended!
author: Eve Goodman
Lovely acoustic guitar based alt/country album with some very nice finger picking. Christopher has a great talent for combining beautiful and nostalgic lyrics with strong, flowing and memorable melodies. I especially liked the blues songs Gas It Up and Question of Style and the Hank Williams tinged I work hard for a livin'. Christopher's guitar playing is intricate and yet sounds effortless and easy going. The over all feeling of the album is very calming even when listening to songs like Black Earth that depict the slow death of small town U.S.A. I hope you'll take the time to check out Heartland Variations - I really think you'll be glad that you did.
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Heartland Variations
author: Steve Cohagan
Man is this record smooth. I have been listening to Christopher Jones's "Heartland Variations" for a while now and enjoy it every time. Musically and lyrically one of the best indie albums in my collection. I'm glad I own it and recommend it to all.
His musical images take me to places that I have known and can picture with a smile. Thanks Chris.
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Nice Americana Project!!
author: Robin G
Christopher Jones has a JJ Cale type of laid back vocal style. With insightful mature writing, tasteful production and a soulful slant, this CD is easy to listen to and enjoy. I particularly enjoyed "Cincinnati Nights". Recommended!
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