Tommy Emmanuel

First off I have to admit that I have never previously been aware of the accolade ‘Certified Guitar Player’ that was awarded to Tommy Emmanuel in 1999 by the legendary Chet Atkins. However, I will also happily admit that if there was anyone who deserved the title it is Mr Emmanuel – his playing is quite incredible.

From the opening notes of ‘Halfway Home’ you can hear finger-picking of real delicacy and skill. Every note ringing out like the perfect peal of a finely tuned bell and fluidity like very few can manage.

As the album progresses he shows that he can play it sweet and hot as well as deeply emotional with numbers like ‘The Fingerlakes’ touching on a Flamenco/Blues mix and really creating a dark well of sound that you just want to stare down into or his version of ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ which manages to put over the depth of feeling of the song without words or any accompanying instrumentation.
‘The Mighty Mouse’ shows what he can do when he lifts the tempo and the number goes skittering around the soundstage with a light and jocular air.
Numbers like ‘Jack Magic’ see him playing with a jazzy and insouciant feeling and when he strays into a country-Blues sort of groove as on ‘Mountains Of Illinois’ or a terrific version of the classic ‘Tennessee Waltz’ he is totally convincing.
Rick Price guests on a fabulous ‘Moon River’ and elsewhere he is joined by some great sidemen such as Victor Wooten or Dr John Knowles (another CGP) and Doyle Dykes.

So we have a man who plays guitar with finesse and a real sense of joy and who can make music in many styles and seems to have no limit to his skills – if this album wasn’t so good to listen to I would love to hate him.
As it is I’m off to cue up ‘Willie’s Shades’ again.