Chris Smither on tour in support of new album

Four decades of music mastery and songwriting craft come together on Chris Smither's latest collection, Time Stands Still - a gripping mix of originals and potent covers. The new collection comes out September 29th on Signature Sounds/Mighty Albert.

Time Stands Still puts the exclamation point on a legendary career that shows no signs of slowing down. On the contrary, this blues and folk superstar continues to build creative momentum.His latest effort features a slew of tunes stripped down to their essence, shining the spotlight on Smither's understated power as a songwriter-one who taps into emotions at their most elemental and powerful core. It's a reminder why artists as diverse as Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris and Diana Krall have mined Smither's catalog in the past.

He's teamed with producer and guitarist David "Goody" Goodrich and drummer Zak Trojano to create a simple, yet emotionally powerful musical landscape upon which to paint his blues and folk-fueled narratives. As always, Smither's signature finger-picking style mixes with his whiskey-meets-honey vocals to deliver intensely honest meditations on life, love and loss.

Smither's latest studio album was recorded in just three days and captures the vibrant urgency and immediacy of his live shows. It features eight original compositions as well as covers from Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler, and 1920s country-blues songster Frank Hutchison.

Equal parts existential inquisitor and day-to-day chronicler, Smither has an innate ability to imbibe songs dealing with contemporary issues with a timeless quality. Whether playfully dealing with parenthood on "I Don't Know" or acting the seducer on "Don't Call Me Stranger," the brokenness of the blues is never far away. Every song is seeped in emotion, burnished with wisdom of hard-fought knowledge. Like the master craftsman he is, Smither always marries the right melody with thought-provoking, heart-and-soul rending lyrics. Nowhere is that more evident than on the soulful title track. Building on a toe-tapping beat, Smither's voice plaintively sings "I kissed her twice at the speed of light and time stood still," perfectly capturing and immortalizing one of the small moments that gives so much meaning in life.

Like all great blues and folk masters, Smither doesn't wallow in the darkness. Rather he illuminates it, and the songs on Time Stands Still shine a light on the intricacies of the human condition. His insights and creativity are also finding new outlets. He recently contributed a short story for the new book, Amplified (Melville House), a collection of 16 stories by some of today's most compelling performing songwriter. His story, "Leroy Purcell" kicks off the collection.

Burgeoning literary powerhouse, distinctive guitarist, captivating storyteller and song poet-there's no end to Chris Smither's creative talents. He's got so much going on, don't be surprised if his latest collection of music makes Time Stands Still.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
09/28/2009 - Lexington, KY - WoodSong's Old-Time Radio Hour
09/29/2009 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage Radio
10/02/2009 - Hillsboro, OR - Walters Cultural Arts Center
10/03/2009 - Eugene, OR - The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts
10/04/2009 - North Vancouver, BC - Capilano College Performing Arts
10/06/2009 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
10/07/2009 - Bozeman, MT - Treehouse
10/08/2009 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
10/09/2009 - Denver, CO - Swallow Hill / Daniels Hall
10/10/2009 - Albuquerque, NM - Outpost Performance Space
10/15/2009 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
10/16/2009 - Charlotte, NC - The Stage Door Theatre
10/17/2009 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic
10/18/2009 - New Orleans, LA - Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
10/23/2009 - Berkeley, CA - Freight & Salvage
10/24/2009 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre
10/25/2009 - Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's
10/27/2009 - Cedar Rapids, IA - CSPS
10/28/2009 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
10/29/2009 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
10/30/2009 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music
10/31/2009 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
11/06/2009 - The Regent Theatre - Arlington, MA
11/07/2009 - The Iron Horse - Northampton, MA
11/12/2009 - Ashland Coffee & Tea - Ashland, VA
11/13/2009 - Birchmere - Alexandria, VA
11/14/2009 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
11/15/2009 - Joe's Pub - New York, NY