Chris Whitley

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Chris Whitley

Christopher Becker Whitley, called: Chris Whitley, (born August 31, 1960 in Houston , Texas , USA ; † November 20, 2005 in Houston, Texas, USA) was an American musician and songwriter .

Life

Chris Whitley has worked with many well-known musicians. In 1991 his debut album Living With the Law was produced by Malcom Burns, a protégé of Daniel Lanois . In 2000 he worked with Chris Wood and Billy Martin (from the Trio Medeski, Martin and Wood) on the album Perfect Day . On his album Rocket House (2001) there were also guest appearances by Dave Matthews and Bruce Hornsby . For the background music of a love scene in the film Thelma & Louise with Geena Davis and Brad Pitt , the title Kick the Stones by Whitley was selected by the director Ridley Scott .

During the recording of the soundtrack Pigs Will Fly (2003) Whitley worked with the two Germans Heiko Schramm (bass) and Matthias Macht (drums), as well as with the composers Kai-Uwe Kohlschmidt and Warner Poland . Schramm was already on the "Rocket House" tour as a permanent bass player. This was followed by the album Hotel Vast Horizon (also 2003). During this work he developed a certain love for the city of Dresden , which in the years that followed until shortly before his death would also become his new home.

Chris Whitley, father of the musician Trixie Whitley (* 1987), died on November 20, 2005 with his family at the age of 45 of lung cancer .

style

Whitley played resonator guitar and banjo , among other things . What was particularly striking was the brittle way in which Whitley orchestrated his songs. His style could be described as psychedelic blues . In his texts, political, religious and sexual themes mixed in a surreal but poetic way.

Whitley's guitar playing is considered by many to be groundbreaking and extremely independent. His technique doesn't conform to the rules, but still captivates with breathtaking intonation and speed (see e.g. Home is Where You Get Across on the CD Live At Martyrs from 1999). He also used a variety of guitar tunings, which may also be due to his admiration for Nick Drake .

The album Dirt Floor , recorded in just two days in his father's barn in Vermont , characterized MusikWoche : “He created a fascinating song collection with just acoustic guitar or banjo, which in its intimacy and intensity is reminiscent of country blues legends such as Robert Johnson and Son House , sometimes reminds of great songwriters like Nick Drake or Townes van Zandt . Whitley's soulful voice and his sensitive string art impressively bring out beautiful, simple melodies and mostly sad, allegorical texts about the hardships, obstacles and unfulfilled longings of life. "

Discography

Albums

  • 1991: Living with the Law
  • 1995: Railroad Sunset
  • 1995: Din of Ecstacy
  • 1997: Terra Incognita
  • 1998: Dirt Floor
  • 1999: Chris Whitley at Martyrs (live album)
  • 2000: Perfect Day
  • 2001: Rocket House
  • 2003: Pigs Will Fly - ost
  • 2003: Hotel Vast Horizon
  • 2004: Weed
  • 2005: War Crime Blues
  • 2005: Soft Dangerous Shores
  • 2006: Reiter In (Chris Whitley & The Bastard Club)
  • 2006: Dislocation Blues (Chris Whitley & Jeff Lang)
  • 2008: On Air (2008) ( live concert recorded by Radio Bremen in 2003 )

Singles

  • 1991: National Steel Edition (12 " EP )
  • 1991: Living with the Law (7 "single)
  • 1991: Big Sky Country (CD-Maxi)
  • 1992: Poison Girl (CD-Maxi)
  • 1995: O God My Heart is Ready (CD-Maxi)
  • 1995: Din (CD promo single)
  • 1996: Terra Incognita Sampler (CD Promo EP)
  • 2001: Chris Whitley / Ben Kweller (CD-Promo- Split- EP)

Compilations

  • 2002: Long Way Around: An Anthology 1991-2001
  • 2005: Big Sky Country

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Chris Whitley. Dirt floor . In: MusikWoche . The news magazine for the music industry. No. 34/1998 , August 17, 1998, news, p. 29 .