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A veteran of North America's concert circuit and a seasoned session musician with scores of hit recordings to his credit, Chris Vickery, in the noblest years of a long lifetime in music, has put the sum of his vast experience on the line with the creation of his debut solo CD, Temporary Measures.

One of Canada's most respected bass players, whose warm, strong grooves and melodic, jazz-funk lines have graced the recorded and live work of 1960s and 70s Canadian and international soul, jazz, blues and rhythm 'n' blues legends David Clayton Thomas, Lennie Breau, Bob Seger, The Majestics, John Lee Hooker, Jackie Wilson, among others. Vickery brings wisdom, passion and commitment to this collection of original songs, produced in Toronto by Vickery and veteran studio engineers Rusty McCarthy and Terry Brown (Rush).

"I remember someone telling me that if I didn't start recording the things I'd been writing all these years, I'd be a jobber (paid sideman) for the rest of my life" says Vickery, who was born in Surrey, England, and immigrated to Canada as a child. For a couple of decades he was in the vanguard of Canadian sidemen, touring with the late Moe Koffman, The Coasters and the band Icarus, and for many years with Tomlinson, another ex-pat Brit and one of the great songwriters Canada produced in the 1970s and early 80s.

If Temporary Measures sounds cheerfully familiar, it's because Vickery set out deliberately to pay tribute to the music he grew up with, and loved to play, the R&B-laced dance groves and blues-edged ballads that have always been the musical bedrock of Toronto.
By Bullfrog Music

Toronto's Chris Vickery has put so many years in on the road it's almost hard to believe. The list of people he's performed with, the recordings he's played on, is astounding. From appearing on the 60's CBC series "Where It's At" with the Majestics, to years with jazz great Moe Koffman, to work with Lenny Breau, Bob Seger, James Cotton, David Clayton Thomas, Jackie Wilson, Peter Allen, Rick James, and countless others, Chris was there to supply the solid and funky bass lines they required. It was a hard life, though, and it took its toll. When Chris' father passed away he knew it was time to quit touring and take a long hard look at the backlog of songs he'd written over the many decades.

The result is "Temporary Measures," a collection of thirteen of Chris' best tunes, and what a collection it is! This is one of those albums that sticks in your soul. It might not grab you the first time out, but as you listen more and more, the honest feeling, the depth of the songwriting and musicianship, has you coming back to it time and time again. I honestly have to say that this is one of my favourite recordings that has been sent to me for review in the past three or four years, easily. Each time I listen I hear something new, and I get just as much out of it, if not more, every time. Chris, you're a national treasure!

For the first time listener, imagine if you can equal parts Eric Clapton and Lou Reed mixed together, but Temporary Measures goes far beyond that, and it's well worth the trip. Chris assembled all of his many musician friends to play on these sessions, and he knows a lot of the best, plus the entire thing was engineered by the Rush-maester himself, Terry Brown.

Review By Marty Murray

Chris Vickery
Temporary Measures
Home: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Style: Funk, blues, R&B, even some Irish soul, it's all there.

Chris Vickery set out deliberately to pay tribute to the music he grew up with, and loved to play, the R&B-laced dance groves and blues-edged ballads that have always been his musical bedrock.

Chris Vickery has shared stages with The Beach Boys, Steppenwolf, The Dave Clark Five, Bobby Curtola, Billy Joel and Crowbar through the years. He says, "My influences were R&B-based bands like Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, funk, jazz and blues artists like Weather Report, Miles Davis, Otis Redding, and David Sanborn."

"...They're about the true loves of my life, the ones who got away. It's strange, but most of them were written after a break-up. I think people are more open emotionally during times like that, more in touch with themselves."

Chris Vickery, a respected bass player and seasoned 'session' musician from Canada, has put out a debut CD of ten original tunes.

'Mornin' Time Train' with its bluesy slide guitar and the Celtic penny whistle on "Tartan Crossing." These tracks are lovely beyond description. Take special note of the haunting choral backups.

"Midnight's Children" takes a sharp turn to the east, with some fascinating Indian percussives, and the juxtaposition of the sitar and trumpet is nothing short of sublime. Musical National Geographic tour anyone?

The next few tracks feature John Johnson's warm saxophone skills, and Rusty McCarthy's strings.

"That's When." Again, we get the dreamy, drifty feel of Morrison, Johnson's flute dancing lightly over this romantic offering.

"Tuff Stuff" is next, all bouncy funk lines, before the superb "Maybe" blows in with its red-hot R&B groove, Johnson ruling over the universe with his alto sax solo.

"Tatum" does not disappoint either; Chris Vickery saved the best for last with this jazz piece, Johnson's tenor swinging through the time changes and Robert Guseves' keyboards keeping the rhythm nailed tight.
above review excerpt By Kevan Breitinger, Canada.

Temporary Measures

1.Unspoken
2. Collar to the cold
3. Camouflage
4. Mornin' Time Train
5. Tartan Crossing
6. 'Bout You Babe
7. Midnight's Children
8. Reason
9. Jokers and Thieves
10. That's When
11. Tuff Stuff
12. Maybe
13. Tatem

Review by Sing4life.com Darrell B. Gilb