CD Review
Chris Duarte
Romp
by Gary Weeks
Review date: October 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Never wanting to be content with being simply known as a "blues guitarist"
has given Chris Duarte an innovative edge in the musical territory he
zigzags through so easily. His latest record "Romp" in this series may be
the closest thing in capturing the punkish blues energy of his explosive
debut Texas Sugar/Strat Magic.
The experimentations are no less. The lead-off cut "Do The Romp" is a hip
grinding rocker and if the whole cd followed this pattern you would be no
less happy. With it comes the Duarte trademark of quicksilver leads engulfed
by feedback security blankets. "101" follows closely behind and is an
instrumental mined from the same musical vein producing the lineage of Jimi
Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. A fast paced rocker that ends in a train
wreck fashion. Rather then stay on a collision course full of guitar fury
and madman shredding, Chris pulls back the reins a little and turns the
"Fire's Gone Out
into a short dance affair with subtlety undermined by red mercury lead notes
dripping from Duarte's fretboard.
Saluting Texan compadre Eric Johnson, Duarte rampages his way through the
instrumental "Like Eric" manifesting a Steve Vai persona of quick tricks and
hot licks. Chris' rhythm section of drummer Ed Miles and bassist John Jordan
lay a solid foundation for which Duarte can build his musical empire
invoking an imagery of hard rock, backwards guitar phrases, feedback, blues
and general shredding that borders on the lunatic side of life. Lunacy will
take a backseat as shown on Bob Dylan's "One More Cup of Coffee" that
displays Duarte's handling of personal ballads without rough play. "Last
Night" reflects a personal outlook of despair and casts a shadow of darkness
with Chris telling a story through confessional lyrics and mutated guitar
solos making the scenario even more foreboding. When Duarte emerges with
"Mr. Neighbor" and "Take It To The Lord", we finally see a survivor through
a baptism of fire. In "Neighbor," backwards guitar effects recall Hendrix'
"Bold As Love" and "Take It To The Lord" may find Duarte finally achieving
the inner peace that eluded him for too long.
The only blues to be found on this cd is "Bb Blues." Chris could have
easily taken an easy way out and wrote many songs of this genre.
Predictability isn't what Duarte stands for. Wearing many musical hats is
his lynchpins for success. Being just another "Texas Blues Guitar Player"
is not plentiful enough and isn't in the Chris Duarte Game Plan for riding
the glory train.
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