Chris Conly
Chris Conly (b. October 2nd, 1981) is a Portland, Maine born guitarist/composer/multi-instrumentalist/producer/curator currently living and working in New York City. As a sideman he is often seen playing Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass, Cuban Tres, Banjo & Steel Pans.
He regularly performs different styles as diverse as down-home Blues, Modern Jazz, Greasy Funk, Rock ‘n Roll, Old Time & Country, Classical, Calypso & Reggae, West African, Avant Garde & Prepared Guitar, and Film Music.
As curator of the Brooklyn Experiments (a weekly music series at Rose Live Music in Williamsburg, Brooklyn) he has worked with such musical luminaries as 7-string guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter, jazz guitar legend Brad Shepik, trombone inovator Josh Roseman, “downtown” guitarist Elliot Sharp, drumming icon Bobby Previte, trombonist Curtis Folkes, guitarista Viva DeConcini and muilt-instrumentalist Peter Apfelbaum. As music director of the Sunday night house band at Rose, Chris leads the group through adventurous renditions of soul, funk & blues classics, as well as original compositions inspired by the famous Memphis STAX rhythm section, and acclaimed New Orleans backing band The Meters.
In 2009 Chris released 2 recordings of original material, performed with his group The Bromantics. “Live @ ROSE” was recorded in December, 2008 at Rose Live Music, and his studio project “99 Cent Dreams” was released in October and features special guest Kevin Norton (Anthony Braxton) on Vibraphone.
Chris has toured nationally with Off-Broadway improv comedy group Baby Wants Candy, The Solomon Douglas Blues Band, Indie-Folk gem (and fellow Maine native) Audrey Ryan, New York singer & songwriter Alex Nackman (MTV, Bravo, E!), and The Island Boys Calypso Band.
Originally from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Chris was a professional musician by 14, and grew up playing at weddings, festivals, in bars, and on street corners. He spent 4 years in Boston, studying at Berklee College of Music with a handful of the most innovative and legendary guitarists like David Tronzo (John Zorn, Son House), David Fiuczynski (Me'Shell NdegéOcello), and Richie Hart (Dr. Lonnie Smith). After graduating Berklee, Chris spent 2 years performing in Boston with various singers, hip-hop acts, and experimental ensembles, including an improvisation-based trio of his own. Chris currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, where he teaches, composes and records at his home studio.
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Albert King, Allman Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Arsenio Rodriquez, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Beck, Bela Fleck, Bill Frisell, Bo Didley, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Bonnie Raitt, Marc Ribot, Joni Mitchell, Jurassic 5, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, The Meters, Booker T. & the MG's, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, Muddy Waters, Nina Simone, Willie Nelson, Parliament, Paul Simon, Phillip Glass, The Police, Prefab Sprout, Prince, Queen, Radiohead, Ray Charles, Robben Ford, Robert Johnson, The Roots, Son House, Steely Dan, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stevie Wonder, Talking Heads, Tom Waits, A Tribe Called Quest, Wayne Krantz, Wes Montgomery
