NEW MUSIC
SELECTIVE HEARING | Robert Berman
PHIL KEAGGY, TONY LEVIN, AND NEEDTOBREATHE
JERRY MAROTTA Acoustic Live, Vol. 1
The Bucket List
percussionist Jerry Marotta, two of the most
highly regarded figures in the recording industry.
Turned loose to create music together without
deadlines or commercial preconceptions, the
trio produced hours of instrumental tunes, with
the best bits assembled here. Twelve tracks in
forty-seven minutes – no bloated, self-indulgent
jazz odysseys into the far corners of tedium.
Keaggy shows for the umpteenth time that
playing well doesn’t mean playing quickly; it’s in
the hook and the groove. Some of his signature Live albums don’t have to be a cash grab if
Fun fact: Between 1757 and 1795, Franz Josef licks (including a quotation from his track they offer something new. The self-proclaimed
Haydn composed 104 symphonies. More than “Happy”) and tones recur to confirm who’s “soft rock band” of Bo and Bear Rinehart does
two a year! Impressive, but also intimidating. holding the guitar, but not so much that we’re have something new, a stripped collection of
Where would you begin to listen? Phil Keaggy just retreading “The Master and the Musician” their recent hits and favorites, augmented by
neophytes face a similar challenge. You’ve or “220” any of his previous masterworks. standards like a waltz version of Ben E. King’s
heard that he’s one of the finest guitarists in the Levin and Marotta are right there with him in “Stand By Me”, a bit of Rev. Milton Brunson’s
world, Christian or otherwise. But he just has so the pocket, with Levin’s typically thumping bass gospel classic “I’m Free”, and even a (non-
many albums, from rock to pop to classical and style complemented by Marotta work which is ribald) excerpt from “Squeeze Box” by The Who
jazz instrumentals. Need a starting point? Here not only well performed but well recorded, with interpolated into the love song “Oh, Carolina”.
you go. One of Keaggy’s several current projects whispered highlights to make you glad you’re “Let’s Stay Home Tonight” dunks another
is this collaboration with bassist Tony Levin and listening with headphones. marital ode deep in the sounds of Alabama,
with deep harmonies and an unexpected
country backbeat. While the rest of the album
mixes banjo and mandolin with piano and
acoustic guitar in more contemporary ways…
more Andy Grammer than Andy Griffith. Gospel
organ propels “No Excuses”. Tracks like
“Testify”, “Cages” and “Washed by the Water”
speak to their Christian faith. “Stones under
Rushing Water” features guest vocals from
Drew and Ellie Holcomb. An audience sing-a-
long of crowd-pleaser “Brother” closes out a
night worth revisiting.
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February 2019
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