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ORIGINAL Blues

REVIEW

2:40

Playlist from Tom Foley radio program

December 17, 2023

REVIEW

Nobody Knows You...

Video: DJ Wolf

3:08

"Your songs are great. I got your CD a couple days ago and I like it very much. Your songs are great and will fit in well. I picked four songs for Delta Boogie Radio"

Larry "Hairy Larry" Heyl

Delta Boogie Radio, Brookland, AR

2:46

I'll Play the Blues for You

Fun On the Frets

"I Loved your songs."

Sherry - Misty Blue Cafe

Redwood, CA

Live Video

Blues

Photo : Christy Bozard-Heaton

Playlist from Tom Foley radio program

December 2, 2023

Ramble No More

BLUES Standards

3:08

Blues & Beyond Review by R. Mark Rhodes
Paragould Daily Press - Paragould, Arkansas

Jimi Hendrix once said “Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel,” and there are many musicians out there who fall into this trap. However Chris Stevens is not one of them. His album “Blues & Beyond” is ... acoustic blues that you can feel all the way down to your soul...

I really liked the album. All the songs have a slow melodious groove that is perfect to put on while entertaining, relaxing or playing in the background while working. If you are a fan of the blues you will want this for your collection. If you are not a blues fan you should still check out this album as I think you will immediately become a convert. I wish the packaging had been better, but money is probably an issue considering the fact of not having a major label behind him.

"Blues & Beyond" gets a 'B.'

Photo: Ching Zedric

Video: Darren Schultz Concert Photography

BIO

Born on the Southside of Galesburg, Illinois, Chris grew up on the outer edge of Chicago. The Blues boiled within his veins - tasty guitar licks, soulful whiskey-voice singing, plus, passionate playing & songwriting, Located within earshot of one of the largest railroad switchyards in the world, Chris listened and learned the rhythms which drive his music.

Chris Stevens started on piano to learn theory and when he switched to guitar he underwent an intense study system with Bob Webber from Sugarloaf, utilizing the Joe Pass Method Book.

Chris has played on EVERY primary festival stage in central Illinois including: Budweiser Illinois Blues Festival, Miller Lite Illinois Blues Fest, Budweiser Grand Nationals, Summer Camp, Taste of Peoria and a stint as the guitar player for the touring cast of Hairspray at the Peoria Civic Center.

Chris co-founded the successful Blues-Rock trio, LIAR’S DICE. He co-wrote, played the guitars and sang on the self-titled album. The album contained the song “Don’t Change the Answer” which climbed to #2 on KSYM-FM in San Antonio, Texas. The song also reached #4 on WWVU-FM in Charleston, West Virginia. Two other songs on the album, a cover of the Ides of March “Vehicle” and another original song “Like-A-Roller” both climbed to #5 on WERG-FM in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Chris Stevens has performed as a support act at festivals with headline acts including: Johnny Winter, Savoy Brown, John Mayall, Buddy Guy, Dave Mason, Kenny Wayne Shepperd, and more

Chris Stevens, who spent years studying and practicing, embraces the challenge of both crafting and covering songs with a focus on melody blended with skilled musicianship. Learning the signature licks of Eric Clapton, Freddie King, Otis Rush, Carlos Santana, Duane Allman, Buddy Guy and many others help Chris bring a passionate, improvisational style of guitar and vocals to the studio and live performance stage.

The latest CD—Old or New: All Shaded Blue—from guitarist—vocalist—songwriter, Chris Stevens, cooks a simmering stew: one pound of CLASSIC BLUES with a huge helping of TODAY.

Sitting On Top of the World

Ramble No More

"Nothing but pleasant things to say about Chris."

Michael Vandy - Owner Water's Edge Winery

Peoria Heights, IL

Photo: Tom Foley

Peoria Blues & Heritage Festival 2023

Link to my Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/chrisstevens.5030/

Photo: Christy Bozard-Heaton

Video: Darren Schultz Concert Photography

MUSIC CONNECTION Magazine

LIVESTREAM REVIEW: CHRIS STEVENS
BY ERIC HARABADIAN
Livestream • Widecast Studios Peoria, IL
Contact: stingerstevens@gmail.comn. Web: stevenschris.com

Material: Stevens takes the listener on a musical journey through the decades. His choice of covers and originals is based in the blues. But he also throws in a healthy dose of classic rock and pop as well. A typical set consists of an impressive array of covers such as Buddy Guy and Junior Wells’ “Messin’ With the Kid,” Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind” and Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” Original songs like the jazzy, Latin grooving “Living for the Moment,” the funky upbeat “Why I Wonder” and the traditional and rootsy “Sunrise Blues” are equally strong.

Musicianship: Stevens uses a streamlined setup of acoustic guitar and a small combo amp. He is a student of Eric Clapton, Freddie King and Carlos Santana and these artists figure prominently in his lead work. He is also quite adept at utilizing a looping system for rhythms and counter melodies to effectively give certain songs additional depth and fullness. He has a very nuanced and ornamental way in which he performs elaborate intros to a number of songs. He seems to arrange and rearrange on the spot, giving the set list a fresh and spontaneous feel.

Performance: The livestream originated from the Peoria Live TV show set. And any proceeds contributed to Stevens’ performance benefitted the “Make-A-Wish” foundation. The hour-long set was fairly brisk and Stevens shared little asides and stories that linked songs together. A number of tunes were notable; namely his rough and tumble take on T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday,” a rocking version of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee’s “Outside Woman Blues” and his slow and sensual cover of the standard “Summer time.”

There were a couple moments where Stevens would take pause to switch looping programs for specific songs, but he’d always maintain a dialogue with the viewing audience and keep it rolling. Toward the latter portion of the show he added some tender moments, with a unique take on the Beatles’ “Yesterday” and a heartfelt dedication to the “Make-A-Wish” beneficiaries, with Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Summary: Chris Stevens is a blues man at heart, and he injects that passion and soulful spirit into whatever material he is doing. His comprehensive set list is impressive and many of his original songs figure prominently in that mix.