Customer Reviews

Tap the Red Cane Whirlwind

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being familiar and enriched by the integrity and quality of Kelly Joe Phelps' prior recordings, the only reservation I had before I bought this CD was that it was live.
Understand me, I don't dislike live albums in principle. In the case of certain artists, live recordings have captured legendary performances and unusual moments of beauty.
Anyway, the point was whether an album of new versions of old songs and a couple of classic Blues, plus the potentially limited sound of a live performance, would add to Phelps' track record.
Great news. This album is as satisfying and likely to touch you as much as any one of Phelps prior incarnations, whichever one may be your favorite.
The album begins with a remarkable version of the classic "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues," sung so close to the bone you may think he's channeling Skip James himself, and also serving a the first reminder of this man's skill and feel on the acoustic guitar.
Both his voice and his strings do the honors on several of self-penned tunes too. Three that must be mentioned, for their intimacy and new touch, are "Not So Far To Go" and "Waiting For Marty" -both ballads that were highlights from his last studio album Slingshot Professionals"- and the tender and thoughtful "Tommy." Plus the second cover, "I Am The Light O f The World," is equally astounding.
Finally, the quality of the recording is impeccable as live albums go. It seems that the people in the small audience present were as enthralled as I, when he played these songs. Other than applauses respectfully waiting for the end of each song, the silence is absolute. Almost reverential of the great music captured on Tap The Red Cane Whirlwind.

Kelly Joe Phelps is a member of the old school of blues and folk music. He has crafted most of his instruments himself to acquire the deep blues sound that works its way to the bones of his audience. His songwriting- draws upon mixed blues traditions. His productions are lean and beautifully miked, and his packages are well-produced with full lyrics and ample credits. On this generous (over 70:00 set) set of live concert-takes from McCabes in Santa Monica and The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, he plays some gorgeous work from previously produced issues and some new pieces too. His lyrics run the gamut from Jesus to bourbon, but the emotional impact and sheer acoustic loveliness of these performances will have universal appeal. While he's occasionally been criticized for a certain sameness in the tenor and tone of his songs, more careful listening reveal's an artist with as great a mastery of his custom guitars as Paul O'Dette has of lutes. The man is a marvel, and at $12.98, I can't imagine a better deal on real American music.

I first listened to this album at the reccord store under the jazz/blues category, expecting to hear electric lament guitar solos; typical blues you know?

Well I was pretty darn surprised when I discovered it was everything but "typical blues".

Mr Phelps came up with a live album using only accoustic guitar as an instrument. Is voice and music immediatly brought up an image inside my head : burning hot asphalt under a deadly summer afternoon sun....

I brought it back home and popped it into the CD player and started listening. The quality of production was so good that I felt as if I was sitting on Mr. Phelps front porch listening to his music while sipping a bourbon. Wish I actually had Bourdon at that time....

This album is very mellow and heart warming. This guy has a great voice.

I have a hard time imagining that anyone could actually totally dislike this album. That's how good it is.

I have been a fan of Kelly Joe Phelps ever since I first heard the Windows Media Samples of his music here on Amazon, over 5 years ago. I have all but two of his albums and I've seen him live twice. He is definitely my favorite artist. Every album of his is phenomenal but I have to say this is probably his best. I'm no music expert, but I know talent and originality and Kelly Joe is the best!

I bought this right after seeing Kelly Joe Phelps 'live' in Leeds (UK). He's definitely somebody you should see (he's amazing), and seeing him helps you picture where all this stuff comes from and how he gets into it.
This CD captures Kelly Joe's solid, yet intricate and crystalline guitar perfectly. Watching him play is mesmerising. I think this CD also shows him as an artist who is growing, and judging by some of the new songs he played in Leeds, the next studio album will be a treat.
But here, I particularly love 'Cardboard Box of Batteries', which is slow and perfect, every pluck of the guitar string perfectly woven into those smoke vocals. Such subtlety. Such restraint. Such complexity too: there's enough to keep you listening for years; each song is like a miniature blues symphony.
Just like in real life, KJP doesn't really say anything in between tracks, so don't expect any chat. It's just him and the music. Which is fine by me when the music's this good. Kelly Joe is the real thing. I highly recommend this.

kelly joe phelps is an extraordinaryly talented guitar picker who also happens to possess a wonderful resonant voice. you won't hear many live recordings as moving as this one. all on the long side, the songs range from six and a half minutes to almost ten minutes each; as mr phelps makes effective use of space and silence around his playing to work brilliant song sculputures out from these compositions. quiet and intense, this is blues and folk music that enthralls. if you have yet to discover kelly joe phelps, this is the place and time. don't miss him.

I've seen Kelly Joe Phelps many times live, going back to when he first started out in his native Portland. I think he is one of the most original and interesting musicians/guitarists around, and his recordings don't really do his talent justice - until now. He takes a revolutionary approach to traditional fingerstyle country blues, which you really hear in his live shows. His live playing has alot in common with jazz improvisation, albeit within a country blues framework. Indeed, some live songs are almost unrecognizeable from the recorded version - sometimes you have to wait to catch a snippet of lyric just to get your bearings. The fact that he does this using fingerstyle technique and many different alternate tunings make it all the more unbelievable.

I have to say I'm really tired of people yelling 'slide, slide' throughout the show - I can't imagine how annoyed he is with it. His interests and technique have moved on since Lead Me On, which was about 15 years ago. Perhaps he said it best at a live show in 2003: 'You don't need a slide, you need a musician.'

I had the privilege of taking in a live performance by Mr. Phelps in Fall River MA this past weekend, and all I can say is that it was mesmerizing. This live CD does an excellent job of capturing his utterly unique take on the acoustic blues. It's a must have for any serious blues afficionado. However, you MUST see this man live - I promise you will not regret it.

I've listened to Kelly Joe Phelps since his first recording- actually own them all but for his ep- I was initially surprised when he avoided playing slide on "Sky Like a Broken Clock", then confused when he had Steve Dawson playing slide on "Slingshot Professionals"- I was hopeful when I heard he was doing a live solo recording, and when I first saw the cd cover on his site, with his guitar laying flat, I'm afraid I had assumed (my fault) that he had returned to his amazing original style of slide playing- Unless my ears deceive me, there's nary a slide heard on this- please correct me if I'm wrong- I've never had the pleasure to see Phelps play live, hope to at some point...

I have all Kelly Joe's cds and this is my current favorit. His music is so warm and soothing. I have had the pleasure of seeing him perform in person and this cd reminded me very much of the live performance. His guitar playing is wonderful and I highly recommend all his cd's.