All Music Guide Gives Under the Influence Four Stars
September 30th, 2003

All Music Guide
**** Four Stars
Tuey Connell - Under the Influence
AMG Pick

Once heralded as a country banjo prodigy, Tuey Connell betrays barely a hint of this pedigree on the superb Under the Influence set. The feel is one of intimate vocal jazz, with German pianist Steve Klink and his trio providing the after-hours ambience. There's smoke and satin in Connell's voice, and the swing of his phrasing at all tempos is fully natural, unsoiled by retro campiness. His writing is solid too, with a strong hint of Mose Allison on the ironic "I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine." Equally impressive are the arrangements; before breaking into a medium-up, finger-snap groove in the second half of his own tune, "Malady," Connell leads the group through a slow, sensuous mist that almost obscures the fact that each verse is built on alternating pairs of measures in 6/4 and 5/4. And on the chestnut "No Moon at All," he hauls out his banjo for an unlikely but very effective ballad reading. By emphasizing fidelity to the genre and respect for the material over flash and gimmickry, Under the Influence may not win the credit it deserves, yet for the knowing listener its bouquet will linger long after last call is sounded.

- Robert L. Doerschuk

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