Search - Chris Proctor :: Under The Influence

In his own words: "I decided that I did not want a 'cover' CD as such, and would only record pieces which lent themselves to arrangements that could be both familiar and original. I wanted people to enjoy the pleasures that great recognizable music provides and be transported to new terrain at the same time." Chris has advanced the arts of fingerstyle guitar technique and composition with each recording, but with the stunning release of "Under the Influence" in 2000 he raised the bar on arranging as well, focusing on the music of his formative listening years. He found ways not only to pay homage to each song's origins, but also to take us into territory beyond that of standard Americana or normal tribute albums. With "Under the Influence", the familiarity of the material welcomes us as Proctor's singular arrangements surprise us. Chris has always been known for his remarkable body of original works for six- and twelve-string guitar, his trademark counterpoint and inner voices, his technical wizardry and his pioneering use of the E-bow and guitar mutes. In "Under the Influence", he interpreted songs from across the musical spectrum, preserving the distinct flavor of each piece with his senses of taste, economy, and proportion, while far surpassing its musical and emotional impact. Recorded in a pristine audiophile setting, "Under the Influence" takes us for a swim in the diverse waters of Proctor's musical youth. We surf waves of 60's and 70's folk, the timeless and elegant Baroque constructions of J.S. Bach, driving Irish jigs and haunting slow airs, bluegrass and Appalachian string band tunes, and treatments of guitar pieces from steel string titans Leo Kottke and John Fahey, all of which provide substance to the "Instrumental Americana" descriptive which critics use so often to try and capture his style.