warming down
liner notes
about the album
i've been in the process of creating my next album, a solo guitar album, and i wanted to share a free sneak peek of what is to come. as part of my process, i start each recording session with a completely free and unstructured improvisation. this is my way to warm up and get in touch with the instrument. i sit down, pick up the guitar, hit record, and just follow my ear wherever it leads me. inevitably, i stumble upon a phrase or an idea that grabs my attention and i attempt to delve deeper into it and develop it for a time. eventually i move on until the next idea jumps out at me. at some point i find myself drifting into playing one of the actual songs on the album, and this is where the warm up (or warm down, as i like to call it) ends.
what i've included here in this little free album is a small handful of my most memorable "warming down" explorations. it's music that asks the listener to be patient and try to simply exist in an often vague and open-ended space.
so why do i call it "warming down?" well, it's a lot like warming up, but i like to think of it as a process of going down, deeper into the creative space where musical inspiration often lies. likewise, to boot up my musical software running somewhere in the mind, i need to boot down some of those processes that get in the way of creativity.
i hope you find something enjoyable and interesting in these "warming down" vignettes.
tracklist
- 01. warming up — 05:32
- 02. my ideal — 02:35
- 03. inertia and angles — 07:12
- 04. vague circles — 05:34
- 05. warming down — 07:28
- 06. familiar structures (bonus) — 11:47
- 07. unfamiliar structures (bonus) — 08:02
total runtime: 48:10
about chris
chris is a graduate of the institute of contemporary music performance in london and lehigh university, where he studied under vic juris, tom guarna, gene perla, dave liebman, and bill warfield. his influences in jazz span from andrew hill all the way to john scofield, and being a child of the early nintendo era, the music from classic snes and n64 titles is a permanent source of inspiration.
chris is based in providence, rhode island, where he is composing, producing, and performing in various contexts. currently, he is exploring the many intersections between jazz and electronic music. he is extremely fond of being outside in nature (as you can probably see), and much of the inspiration for this album (and the upcoming full solo guitar album) was drawn from the outdoors.
bonus content
i recently collaborated with SON WU on a free sample pack of acoustic and electric guitar. we wanted it to capture the free spirit and open space of solo guitar, while also being amenable to chopping up and beat-making. give it a try!
- · free download link: patreon.com/posts/guitar-loop-by-147516436
- · SON WU's youtube channel: youtube.com/@SONWU
credits
- · released january 23, 2026.
- · all tracks performed and produced by chris covney.
- · recorded, mixed, and mastered by chris covney entirely on a cm-15, tx-6, and tp-7 with no post processing.
- · guitars: koentopp archtop and danocaster electric.
- · original album artwork by kelley lowe (etching on paper).
- · artist promo photography by louise bichan.
- · web design & liner notes by chris covney.
legal & links
℗ 2026 chris covney. © 2026 chris covney. all rights reserved.
- · publishing: self‑published
- · links: bandcamp • soundcloud • youtube • homepage
