New Review Jan 2012 American Blues News

http://www.ameriblues.com
American Blues News
(New York, NY)

Christine Santelli Flies Completely Solo

In the mid-1990s New Yorker Christine Santelli began touring the world as one of blues’/roots rock’s brightest new stars; sharing stages and concert bills with such respected veterans as Kim Wilson, Eric Burdon, Bonnie Raitt and Steve Cropper.  Her ongoing career has been full of critical accolades, loyal fans and as her latest album demonstrates…artistic growth. 

Santelli’s musical style and perhaps more importantly her songwriting have come a long way since her earlier “blues” days.  Years spent on the road and the everyday life experiences that many of us take for granted, have since fueled her music with maturity and depth.

In 2010 she bravely put her writing chops to the test, committing herself to an ambitious project that would ultimately find her writing, performing and posting (on youtube & Facebook) 100 original songs in 100 consecutive days and in late 2011, after honing what she considered to be the cream of that 100 song crop, Santelli entered the studio to do something that she had never done before; record an intimate solo acoustic album.

Produced by Dave Gross, DRAGONFLY finds the powerful female vocalist hiding behind nothing but her acoustic guitar…or in some instances her piano.  Over the span of just 15 short tracks Santelli paints a dynamic portrait that is so beautifully vulnerable and feminine, that it could have only come from a woman (not a girl) that has been diligently refining her craft for years. 

DRAGONFLY delivers the mellow vibe that most would expect from an album made up entirely of one voice and instrument, but its emotional range is wide and its musical tones are varied.  Many of its tracks have a subtle country “feel,” while others take their cues from some of popular music’s singer/songwriter greats—“Why Call Me” would undoubtedly feel at home on an album like Billy Joel’s COLD SPRING HARBOR and “Your Name’s Now Up In Lights” contains shades of Sting’s hit album TEN SUMMONER’S TALES.

From the beautifully melancholy “Ten Years Ago” to the wonderfully fun “Lazy,” DRAGONFLY spans the tonal spectrum and on the whole explores the many facets of love; the joy of it as well as the pain and the love that one has for their significant other, their family, their home and themselves.  It’s a mature work from a gifted singer/songwriter and it is definitely worth a listen.

Copyright © 2012 - J. Blake. All Rights Reserved.