Search - John Mcvey :: Circle of Friends

John Criscitiello / John McVey - then and now

Susan T. Evans | Alamo, Ca. | 02/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard John at a place called the Library, in Voorhees, N.J. around 1990-1991.At that time he was known as John Criscitiello, and from the first performance I was absolutely hooked on his incredible and totally unique talent. I still have one of his original cassettes, "The One Way Train" which has a few tracks that remain some of my favorites some 14 years later. "Circle of Friends" is still as meaningful and enjoyable to me today as the first time I heard it.I had an opportunity to speak with John briefly after a performance in NJ and he indicated that he was going to head to Nashville and try his hand at country music, which I frankly never quite understood, since his talent was so original and totally unique that I always felt his music could carry the day on it's own without the need for a commercial mechanism to drive it. The music business is a strange place to be sometimes, requiring a combination of timing, luck and a fortuitous break here and there to make it, so I imagine John beleieved it was his best shot to have the broadest base of appeal. To this day I believe he is one of the most talented individuals I have ever heard.He has an amazing voice with greater range than he uses,is a uniquely talented lyricist, a wonderful musician and captivating performer. I recommend John's music to anyone who is travelling the path of the heart and still believes that music ought to mean something when it's written and move someone when performed."