Description
‘Don’t Tailgate’ is Chris Gillespie’s first album. A recording with beautiful arrangements incorporating several instruments. Many of the tracks were recorded in 1999 live at ‘Basement’ in reiby place, Sydney. The album opens with the live title track. Chris sings ‘Don’t Tailgate’ with Susan Denehy (The Denehys) followed by a soaring cello solo (Will Martina). The album also incorporates elements of acoustic jazz in tracks like ‘Letters From London’ (featuring David Stratton on upright bass) and ‘The elevator song’. There is also a version of Gershwins ‘Summertime’ with a quartet including Mark Szeto (Monsiuer Camembert).This is an honest, lyrical and atmospheric recording, unique for its time.
Chris Gillespie – Don’t Tailgate
Review by Ian Dearden
Now performing in a trio as Chris Gillespie & the Wandering Hands, this album is Chris’s debut solo album and dates back to 2000.
Describing his style as “country acoustica”, he draws on jazz and the singer/songwriter genre to produce an album, much of it recorded live in a 1999 performance at Sydney’s famous “Basement” venue, which contains nine originals and covers of songs by Paul Simon, Pink Floyd and George Gershwin.
Chris has a warm and listenable voice, allied with excellent fingerpicking chops and a keen songwriter’s ear for love, loneliness and relationships.
There’s sympathetic accompaniment from a range of musicians – of particular note are Susan Denahy’s harmonies and Will Martina’s cello on the title track “Don’t Tailgate”.
Original music with style, atmosphere and intriguing arrangements, finishing with a traffic advisory Please drive carefully!
