Nashville City Paper
June 21st, 2004

Connell redefines notion of musical versatility

By Ron Wynn, rwynn@nashvillecitypaper.com
June 21, 2004


There are several musicians that play more than one instrument, and quite a few who are also fine vocalists. But Tuey Connell, whose trio appears tonight at the Bluebird Café, is truly unique among singers and players.

Getting there
The Tuey Connell Trio plays at 9:30 p.m. tonight at the Bluebird Café, 4104 Hillsboro Road. There is an $8 cover charge, 383-1461.


Connell is a premier guitarist and banjo soloist, as well as an outstanding stylist on standards, pre-rock tunes, blues, soul and rock songs. He enjoys demolishing the notion that the five-string banjo cannot be utilized in any genre except folk or bluegrass.

"Many people expect to hear banjo only if you're doing bluegrass or early New Orleans jazz," Connell said. "But while I really love both those idioms, the banjo has so much potential in other areas that many times hasn't been tapped because of the feeling that you can't play hard bop on the banjo or you can't swing on it. Hopefully, I've proven on my releases that you can play music that's rhythmically and harmonically challenging on the banjo."

Connell's versatility and love of multiple idioms was developed during his childhood. His mother sang in church and played guitar at '60s folk fests. Connell initially took piano lessons as a child, but was so disillusioned by his teacher he almost abandoned playing. His mother convinced him to try the banjo.

The Connell's home was filled with the sounds of artists ranging from Billie Holiday and Nat "King" Cole to Flatt & Scruggs and the Kingston Trio. Once he began playing banjo, Connell gradually also started doubling on guitar, while simultaneously developing his vocal skills.

Indeed, Connell's work has astonished critics from both jazz and folk circles. His most recent release, Under The Influence , features his adventurous banjo and guitar solos as well as lush lead vocals backed by a fine group that includes pianist Steve Klink, bassist Henning Gailing, tenor saxophonist Geof Bradfield and drummer Markus Rieck. Connell delves into soul with a nice version of Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is," capably covers the blues on "When You Been Gone So Long," and then shifts into more conventional jazz/pop territory on "I Thought About You" and "No Moon At All."

While many jazz and jazz-tinged singers consider Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald their main influence, Connell cites the lesser-known but equally marvelous balladeers Johnny Hartman and Mark Murphy. His list of favorite instrumentalists includes jazz guitarists Grant Green, Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny, as well as the masterful banjo players Earl Scruggs and Tony Trischka. But the person he credits above all others with paving the way for innovative approaches to banjo is Nashville's own Bela Fleck.

"He's the master and the one who set the tone for the rest of us on banjo," Connell said. "He plays everything from classical and jazz to rock and blues, does it his way and makes it work. His music has been an inspiration, and I'm trying to do some of the same things with my group."

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