The five-string banjo has not been featured much as an instrument in Irish music. A listen to the twelve brilliant tracks on this CD would make a lot of people wonder why. True the five-string does not have the same highly inflammable, driving sound of the tenor banjo of a Gerry O'Connor or a Brian O'Shea, but Chris Grotewohl shows us with great brilliance that it can bring a unique quality and a most attractive shape and texture to a range of Irish dance tunes. This is a CD to fill the house with joy on a sunny spring morning. The bluegrass influences on Grotewohl's playing are obvious but only occasionally do they intrude on the character of the music. With the highly accomplished and energetic bouzouki backing of Roger Landes along with pipes and fiddle this CD is as good as anything in Irish music to come out of America in recent times."
- JK

Copyright © 1997 Irish Music Magazine
Reprinted with Permission

Chris Grotewohl is the next major Celtic-based 5-String banjo player to hit the scene. His renditions of traditional tunes and his own tastefully surprise-choked compositions are impeccable. Every triplit, gracenote and slur is in place. Though technically demanding, there’s a joyous onrushing emotionality to much of his music. If you need a lift, let Chris's music be your elixir.

                  Tony Trischka    2-17-1997

Don't be fooled into thinking that this is just another banjo album. Playing Celtic music on the 5-string banjo is hard enough, but Chris Grotewohl’s music has world appeal. He has a great flair for writing tunes, and as a composer myself, I really enjoy this aspect of his talent. I like Under the Influence, and so will you.

                 John Whelan
                 Narada Recording Artist
                 1983 All-Ireland Accordian Champion

Chris Grotewohl is a remarkable musician. I never thought that Irish music could be played succesfully on the five string banjo until I heard Chris play in a session in Kansas City, Missouri. It was hard to believe all the sounds that I heard coming from his banjo. I had to check to make sure that it was really a five string banjo he was playing because he was producing the kind of phrasing and ornamentation that one never hears on that instrument. When I listened to his CD, Under the Influence, I knew I was listening to a musician who has immersed himself in the music and developed a unique style that seems to evolve naturally from the tradition. I was also most impressed by the varied repertoire of Irish instrumental pieces he featured on the recording and also by the quality of his own compositions. This is an excellent debut recording.

                Mick Moloney
                Green Linnet Recording Artist, Historian

Many people would consider Chris Grotewohl something of an oddity considering he plays Celtic music on the 5-string banjo and resides in Kansas. One listen to his debut CD Under the Influence will make one quickly forget his choice of instrument and place of residence and stand up to take notice of his virtuosity. Kansas native Kieran O'Hare is one of the finest young Uillean pipers in the world today and guitarist Zan McLeod remains the most sought after accompanist in traditional music today. Some wonderful bouzouki/guitar playing is contributed by producer Roger Landes while keyboardist Connie Dover, bodhran player Albert Alfonso and fiddler Valerie Plested contribute to the overall high quality of this recording. Grotewohl has deeply immersed himself in the music and has created a unique place for himself in the world of Irish music. An impressive debut recording.

                 Cliff McGann
                 Celtic Heritage Magazine 1997

The 5 string banjo usually is associated with bluegrass, or with instrumental extensions of bluegrass into jazz. Now Grotewohl proves you can play burning Irish music on the old 5 string. This is no mere novelty album, however--it's exciting, well played music, no matter what instruments might be involved. That said, the drive and percussiveness of the banjo suits this music well, and with the likes of bouzouki player (and producer) Roger Landes, fiddler Valerie Plested, and guitarist Zan McLeod, among others, helping out, Grotewohl plays with the clearly audible enthusiasm of someone more than delighted to be exploring the possibilities inherent in these tunes. Highlights include the reels set, "The Misconception/O'Landes," one of the guest spots for the outstanding young uillean piper Kieran O'Hare, as well as one tip of the banjo to Grotewohl's bluegrass to Bela Fleck roots, a jazzy piece Grotewohl named "Quasimodal." Also check out "Politically Incorrect," where a eyebrow lifting banjo introduction leads to a tune whose Eastern European aspects make for fascinating backgrounds as well as lead banjo. Needles to say, this CD is essential for banjo fans, especially those who have been teased by the nods Bela Fleck has made towards Irish music. Here, Grotewohl goes far beyond those nods, with exciting, but also intelligent and tasteful, playing of traditional Irish music

              Bob McWilliams
              KANU FM Lawrence, KS. May 1997

Chris Grotewohl’s technique commands attention. Inspired by a workshop with Bela Fleck, Grotewohl has combined a predominately single-string approach with impressive right-hand triplets, allowing him to deftly execute the complex ornamentation fundamental to Celtic music. The accompanying musicians on this disc are among the best from the Celtic scene. The bouzouki playing of Roger Landes is magnetic and soulful. Zan McLeod (one time accomplice of banjoist extraordinare Fred Boyce) delivers his always amazing guitar wizardry. The overall performance is air-tight and well executed. Skillfully recorded with mixing by Bil VornDick and Roger Landes, "Under the Influence" possesses a rich texture while remaining very clean.

This recording will fascinate fans of the banjo and of Celtic music alike. Considering the Celtic connection inherent in the five-string, one might wonder if the "influence" that Grotewohl is under is not some outside pull, but the banjo itself!

             John Bullard
             Banjo Newsletter March 1997

The recording quality is clean and pleasant on the ear, with the banjo clear and up front. In most of the arrangements the top line is played on the four melody strings and on informal listening it would be easy to imagine that the instrument is a tenor, rather than a five-string banjo. There's an interesting variety of tones from the instrument, which I'm sure is deliberate. To a banjo devotee this may be highly meaningful and of great significance but to me it was just ... interesting!

Among the other musical contributions there is some subtle and tasteful work on bodhran and some driving, chunky and to my ears sometimes thumping, guitar accompaniment (I must be getting old). The occasional keyboard backup is nicely arranged and nimbly played, with a bounce that's reminiscent of Shetland or New England piano styles. The fiddle and banjo combine well together and the addition of uilleann pipes gives a lift to the top line. In fact, for me the banjo, fiddle and pipes sound great together and I would have enjoyed hearing these three playing some sets without accompaniment. This is my only reservation. What we have here is impressive and innovative banjo playing, good tunes and a very enjoyable album.

John Scaife  The New Tradition  Scotland

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