Chris Duarte

Austin-based guitarist, songwriter, and singer Chris Duarte is one of the top ten modern guitarists of our time. Often, compared to some of the greats. Duarte’s sound is all him. Drawing on elements of jazz, blues, and rock & roll, Chris is always pushing the envelope of his instrument and his talent. “I’m a musician who is still out there searching for better ways to get from point A to point B, and better my craft. I’m just not content staying in one place.”

Chris Duarte and the Chris Duarte Group are so much more than Texas blues-rock and guitar mastery. “Duarte’s monstrous chops, from funk to punk, from Hendrix to B.B. King, all marked by Duarte’s percussive, in-your-face Strat sound and a subtle use of samples, loops and electronics,” praising Tailspin Headwhacka and Chris Duarte‘s creative musical expression.

I recently talked to Chris Duarte. A man with a refined taste for muscle cars, can kick ass with one note, speak Japanese and is currently on tour.

What are your top five picks of classic muscle cars?

Chris Duarte: Interesting, first time I’m asked this; Well I’ll have to follow suit with where I find myself at the moment and say that I’m leaning towards a 68’ Camaro SS 396cid/375hp. Mine is an automatic and I’d like a manual but it still scoots pretty good. Old 442’s look good as does a 66’ Shelby GT350 Mustang. Something about those good ol’ American muscle cars. Vrrooom! My biggest complaint on this resurgence of muscle car looks with the Challenger and Mustang and New Camaro is that the cars don’t sound like muscle cars, they’re whisper quiet. I know it’s a different working engine and all but throw some headers on it and bring out the growl.

Who or what inspired you to pick up your first instrument and how old were you?

Chris Duarte: When the movie “Fiddler on the Roof” debuted on network TV back in the 70’s, one of the opening scenes is that of a guy on top of a roof and sawing on a violin laying out one of the signature lines of the play. Silhouetted with the moon to his back it was an image that was way too cool for me. I just remember thinking, “that’s for me.”

Remembering back to your first time in front of a live audience, what comes to mind?

Chris Duarte: Surprisingly my first live performance was not on the guitar; it was a steel drum. I was taught on the tenor, the front guys in a steel drum band, when I used to stop in this community workshop after school place where our Mom would meet us after she got off work. My instructors were Trinidadian guys and they took me aside and taught me “I don’t know how to Love Him” from the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” So I would come in and practice this song day after day. In the workshop there were also other departments that I participated in, and the Drama dept. was one of them. Later on a production was being put on and a play was presented and during intermission I played my song on the steel drum. I didn’t have a part in the play cuz’ I would just hang around.

What has been your biggest triumph as an artist? Greatest challenge?

Chris Duarte: My biggest triumph is that I’m still here doing what I enjoy doing the most; touring the world and playing music. I’m able to eek out a living doing it and still the adventure awaiting me is that everyday is different. I’m playing my music and ‘playing’ every night. The Greatest Challenge is to keep improving everyday in every-way so that I won’t stagnate. Driving the ambition up at times is trying, especially as the years advance, what with all the physical deficiencies that make themselves known while the days come and go and the ever increasing responsibilities attended to so that your “Golden Years” will be relaxing, one does feel ambition being pushed aside from time to time.

If the whole world were listening, what would you play? And why?

Chris Duarte: A ballad. The world loves a ballad. A melody that stirs the heart with gentle reminisce and soothes the troubled mind.

As your music as evolved, what do you think has been the most significant change and do you consider it a positive or a negative?

Chris Duarte: The biggest change has been in the structure of the songs with better and more complex parts. At the same time I’m trying to achieve a radio friendly melodic formula that will attune itself to the masses ears. To find that one ingredient that makes the songs in irresistible treat to people’s ears is a never ending task.

What do you want fans to get from your music?
Chris Duarte: An indelible emotional imprint upon them. That way my music will reach deeper into their core.

What is your favorite song to perform live? Why?

Chris Duarte: It changes from time to time. For instance if I’m playing somewhere at a club and the people really get up an dance then I’ll start to play more swinging blues songs, if they’re sitting there wanting guitar acrobatics then I’ll start to stretch out and take chances on melodic ideas while soloing. I’m not against enjoying someone playing air-guitar in front of me but there’s also a look on peoples faces where you know there’s this tacit emotional connection that’s been made.

What do you value most in life?

Chris Duarte: My sanity; so that I might be able to carry on in life to be industrious and good.

If you could, is there a band or artist that you would recommend (Who they may not know about, but you think they should.) to our readers.

Chris Duarte: The obvious ones to me would be John Coltrane and Beethoven; Coltrane for discipline and Beethoven for perseverance. Both strived towards new musical heights.
Obscure – Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman. Boldly unconventional applications set against well entrenched methods of the time. The lesson; always look to find your own unique voice.

I would like to thank Chris Duarte for his participation in this interview.

~Denise Smith (interview 2010.01.27)

Tour dates:

February, 2 2010 08:00 PM
Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom
1300 S. Main St., Little Rock, Arkansas

February, 3 2010 08:00 PM
Nathan P. Murphy’s
Springfield, Missouri

February, 4 2010 08:00 PM
Flytrap Music Hall
Tulsa, Oklahoma

February, 5 2010 08:00 PM
Winstar Rodeo Roadhouse
Fort Worth, Texas

February, 6 2010 08:00 PM
Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar
1031 E. 24th St., Houston, Texas

February, 18 2010 08:00 PM
Smith’s Olde Bar
1578 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, Georgia

February, 19 2010 08:00 PM
Bradfordville Blues Club
Sam’s Lane off Bradfordville Road
7152 Moses Lane, Tallahassee, Florida

February, 20 2010 08:00 PM
Coachman Park
301 Drew St., Clearwater, Florida

February, 26 2010 08:00 PM
Canal Club
Richmond, Virginia

with Bluestone Co.

February, 27 2010 08:00 PM
Jewish Mother
Virginia Beach, Virginia

February, 28 2010 08:00 PM
Ram’s Head
Annapolis, Maryland

March, 1 2010 08:00 PM
The Winchester
Cleveland, Ohio

March, 2 2010 08:00 PM
Treasure Lake Ski Lodge
Dubois, Pennsylvania

March, 3 2010 08:00 PM
Sellersville Theater
Sellersville, Pennsylvania

March, 4 2010 08:00 PM
Infinity Music Hall
Norfolk, Connecticut

March, 5 2010 08:00 PM
Elk Lodge
Franklin,

March, 6 2010 08:00 PM
Mal’s Jazz & Blues
Haverhill, Massachusetts

March, 7 2010 08:00 PM
Chan’s
Woonsocket, Rhode Island

March, 10 2010 08:00 PM
Callahan’s
Auburn Hills, Michigan

March, 11 2010 08:00 PM
House of Blues
Chicago, Illinois

March, 12 2010 08:00 PM
Old Rock House
St. Louis, Missouri

March, 13 2010 08:00 PM
Uncle Bo’s
Topeka, Kansas

March, 14 2010 08:00 PM
Zoo Bar
Lincoln, Nebraska

March, 17 2010 08:00 PM
Old Town Pub
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

March, 19 2010 08:00 PM
Toad Tavern
Denver, Colorado

March, 20 2010 08:00 PM
The Attic
Casper, Wyoming

March, 21 2010 08:00 PM
Sun & Moon Cafe
Salt Lake City, Utah

March, 22 2010 08:00 PM
Sun & Moon Cafe
Salt Lake City, Utah

March, 24 2010 08:00 PM
Rhythm Room
Phoenix, Arizona

March, 25 2010 08:00 PM
Boulder Station Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada

March, 26 2010 08:00 PM
Humphrey’s
San Diego, California

March, 27 2010 08:00 PM
Arcadia Blues Club
Arcadia, California

April, 2 2010 08:00 PM
Backstage@ The All-American Pub
Marietta, Georgia

April, 6 2010 08:00 PM
Janus Shinsaibashi
Osaka, Osaka

April, 7 2010 08:00 PM
KKing Cafe
Hamamatsu, Japan

April, 8 2010 08:00 PM
O-Nest
Tokyo, Japan

April, 9 2010 08:00 PM
Thumb’s Up
Yokohama, Japan

April, 10 2010 08:00 PM
Hip Shot
Koriyama, Fukushima

April, 11 2010 08:00 PM
Ongaku Azm Kan Honten
Nagai, Yamagata

April, 13 2010 08:00 PM
Live House Enn
Sendai, Japan

April, 14 2010 08:00 PM
La’Strada
Ishinomaki, Miyagi

April, 15 2010 08:00 PM
Blues Alley Japan
Tokyo, Japan

April, 16 2010 08:00 PM
Apollo Theater
Nagoya, -

April, 17 2010 08:00 PM
G Stage
Kanazawa, Japan

April, 18 2010 08:00 PM
Summer Knight
Toyama,

April, 21 2010 08:00 PM
Taku Taku
Kyoto, Japan

April, 22 2010 08:00 PM
Varit
Kobe,

April, 23 2010 08:00 PM
Gate 7
Fukuoka, Japan

April, 24 2010 08:00 PM
Cafe Jive
Hiroshima, Japan

April, 25 2010 08:00 PM
Club Maxa
Matsusaka, Mie

April, 27 2010 08:00 PM
Janus Shinsaibashi
Osaka, Japan