JIMnI:
Stacy Lynne Santilli, vocals/guitar/piano
Jim Steiner, vocals/guitar/harmonica
This dynamic singer/songwriter duo features the scintillating vocals of Stacy Lynne Santilli, paired with the rugged, earthy acoustic guitar and warm harmonies of Jim Steiner. Together they craft musical vignettes of the people, places and moments imprinted on their hearts and in their minds.
Stacy and Jim’s musical partnership began over a decade ago, Stacy singing and Jim playing bass, in a bar band called Soul Kitchen. As the band names and players changed over the years, Stacy and Jim continually found themselves making music together. Most recently with the 5-piece band Xtra Sauce, during which time they played several dozen weddings, hundreds of bar gigs and had the pleasure of opening for award-winning country band Exile. Yearning to focus their creative energies on original material, Xtra Sauce disbanded and in early 2010, Jim laid down tracks of 14 original songs. A few weeks later, over a couple of pints at the local brewery, Jim asked Stacy if she might like to add some vocals, and the JIMnI project was born!
As the pages were torn from the calendar, Stacy’s amazing voice took the songs to a whole new dimension and that simple one-man recording grew and evolved into a vibrant, colorful soundscape. JIMnI’s self-titled debut CD features 13 original songs, with guest artists Troy Ricciardi, who adds slithering steel guitar on “Thief of Hearts,” “Bring ‘Em Home,” and “Not For Sale”; and Jen Slayden, whose exquisite, heart-touching cello wafts and wends through “Don’t Look Back” and “Angels”. Stacy weaves beautiful piano into “Pictures,” “Crash and Burn” and “Bring “Em Home”. From edgy (“Hope”) and dark (“Rusted Crosses,” “For You”), to humorous (“Kiss My Ass”) and heartfelt (“Better Than This”), the songs are passionate and honest. This is one of those rare CDs that you’ll listen to from beginning to end, and then start over again!
JIMnI’s live performance is an energetic and absolutely mesmerizing showcase of original creations complemented with an eclectic collection of songs by their favorite artists, ranging from classics such as Patsy Cline, John Denver and The Band, to contemporary: Concrete Blonde, Brandi Carlile and The Civil Wars.
For more information, visit www.reverbnation.com/jimnilive
or find us at www.facebook.com/jimnimusic
Read what the critics are saying:
From Mariss McTucker, CD reviewer for Lively Times
JIMnI - JIMNI
Recorded at Point A Studios on Finley Point, by Stacy Santilli and Troy Ricciardi; mixed by Santilli; and mastered by Nathan Zavalney, Missoula Soundworks, Missoula, MT, 2012
The self-titled debut CD from Polson duo JIMnI, featuring Stacy Lynne Santilli and Jim Steiner, has been a long time in the works, and the wait was well worth it. The two musicians have performed together for 10 years in various bands and always found themselves making music together. They wanted to put something down that was original, and Steiner's 13 self-penned songs fit the bill.
The CD features sparse production that never gets in the way of Santilli's soaring vocals and Steiner's warm, baritone pipes. Santilli also plays piano and tambourine, and Steiner's excellent guitar fretwork anchors his tunes. Guest artists are Troy Ricciardi on steel guitar and Jen Slayden on cello.
The moody "Thief of Hearts" (with lyrics by Steiner's wife, Brenda) starts us off with Santilli's rich, expressive alto leading the way. Ricciardi plays cool, fuzzed-up steel licks and Santilli has spot-on inflections, a ton of control and a fine, husky sound.
Terrific, bold cello from Slayden underpins the next song, "Don't Look Back." The spooky harmonies the duo sings show they are well-matched and tight, and Steiner's emotional lead brings depth. Although Santilli could easily overpower this one, the sound is understated and just right.
"Rusted Crosses," inspired by the crosses along Highway 93, opens slowly with a bluesy, almost ominous feel. Steiner's adept guitar work and harmonica lead the way on a tune that morphs into trouble at 3 a.m.: "The reaper man's been here too many years in a row." Way-cool bent vocal notes from both singers here!
Santilli begs her lover to forgive with long, sad tones in "For You"; she also plays expressive piano on the pretty, bittersweet "Pictures," inspired by an exhibit of Pulitzer Prize-winning photos. The unison harmony of Steiner and Santilli is a nice touch on the chorus ("Some people don't try at all … some people don't give damn … ").
"Bring 'Em Home" features Steiner singing lead on a ballad with political undertones, and "Kiss My Ass" is a Dylan-esque story poem, replete with harmonica and Steiner's pleading vocal, about a woman, according to notes, "who's had just about enough." Once again, they cook on their complementary vocal style here, and the zinger of a last verse is great!
There's a lot more to the album, and good production lets the artists shine at what they do best.
Visit JIMnI at www.reverbnation.com/jimnilive, or www.facebook.com/jimnimusic.
– Mariss McTucker (Lively Times)
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