The new CD, Underground Blues is available  now! 

Underground Blues - the new CD by Marty Christian

Marty Christian - Guitar and Vocals
Andy Cornett - Harmonica (on Piney Wood Boogie and Sentimental Blues)

Recorded and Produced by Evan Jones in Fort Worth, TX

Piney Wood Boogie and Sentimental Blues recorded by Ivan Klisanin in Lafayette, LA

Artwork by Kelly Guidry www.kellyguidry.com

REVIEWS:

"Gritty, down and dirty and definitely hurting, Underground Blues is everything that the blues should be. A largely stripped down recording of Marty Christian on guitar and vocal, he is joined by Andy Cornett and his harmonica on “Piney Wood Boogie.” Together they certainly punch above their weight. “Last Bus to Memphis” leaves you down and out; standing on the dusty road in the rising steam of summer heat. There are some real nice little guitar accents in this song that really set the mood. Steeped in traditional sound, “Never Find a True Love Again” and “Blackbird” both have an ageless quality.

There is a lot of Louisiana soul in Christian’s delivery that can only come from life in the bayou absorbing experience from the masters that came before him. “Sentimental Blues” absolutely aches through each deliberate note. There is drama, confusion, conflict and resolve in the presentation of this track; it just feels so sincere. I like the clean, unfussy desperation in “What Kind of Fool Am I”; Christian really nails that spirit of this one. Proving his command of musical language “Underground Groove” has the complexity needed to make this a spell binding instrumental. Well put together and worth the spin or two on the old turn table, Underground Blues won’t disappoint."

- Nancy Vivolo, Victory Review, April, 2009

"A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Marty Christian first made himself known in the early 90s as a Blues radio DJ in that town. Then from one side of Austin, Texas to the other side of Eastern France, he honed his skills as a performer. Returning to the scene in Lafayette, Louisiana in 2003, he made his first solo album, "Bluesicana" in 2006. Marty Christian is sometimes heard at the side of pianist Henry Gray, but it is only with the sole support of Andy Cornett on harmonica on two songs (Piney wood Sentimental boogie and blues) that he chooses to speak here.

In this "Underground Blues" produced by Evan Jones, there are no mysteries to decipher in the words, unattainable notes to dissect. Just the pleasure of listening to an interpreter in a compelling original repertoire. Yet, if you look at the titles of the songs, most have a feeling of déjà vu. Make no mistake, this is not a case of rehashing old sounds but of new creations, with the exception of Bluebird borrowed from Howlin Wolf. Good singer, accomplished guitarist, Marty Christian recalls the first sides of an acoustic Snooks Eaglin and at times, Van Morrison in a set of collected blues alternating with shakin’ boogies.

The uniqueness of this record also resides in the iconography of the cover art, a mixture of naive and hallucinatory painting all at once, voodoo imagery created by the painter Kelly Guidry. Christian is represented as being led by a blue haired creature in vibrant red dress and shoes, holding on to the neck of his guitar. Proserpine galloping as his guide through a dangerous underground of black cats and snakes, escorted by a hellhound and winged hearts, while the feet of dancers twist and turn on the ground floor above. Christian, agreed, but there is enough here to confuse and persuade..."

- Dominique Lagarde, Soul Bag, March 2009

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