Let’s be grateful, as Thanksgiving approaches, that Andrew Crawford opted to step again a minute from his different musical actions. If he hadn’t, we wouldn’t be listening to his excellent new cowl of legendary songwriter Man Clark’s “The Guitar”. It’s squarely a part of an anticipated custom, with out query, however Crawford applies a stylistic sheen over the anticipated texture. It isn’t simply empty-headed gloss. His therapy and interpretation of Clark’s unique imbue the efficiency with an sudden, close to jazzy, jaunt.
BANDCAMP: https://guyclark.bandcamp.com/observe/the-guitar
It’s an important re-imagining in Crawford’s fingers. He works with stalwart bluegrass interpreters similar to Wilson Banjo Co., however moments similar to this illustrate his facility for branching out. It’s spectacular how skillfully Crawford’s association and the enjoying therein stay loyal to bluegrass and/or roots music traditions. It has a totally genuine taste from starting to finish that remembers its long-ago and arguably rather more humble origins.
Clark remains to be rightly thought to be considered one of nation music’s pre-eminent lyricists. “The Guitar” is a superb instance of why. The direct and unadorned language of the music’s lyrics instantly connects. Clark is aware of the way to strike the proper stability between particular element, motion, and the suggestion of one thing extra to present “The Guitar” an enduring high quality prepared for any high quality singer to take advantage of.
Crawford isn’t a historically gifted singer. His accomplishments don’t consequence from virtuosic vocal pyrotechnics however, as a substitute, a masterful grasp of the way to finest make the most of emotion. He does an distinctive job balancing the storytelling issues of Clark’s “The Guitar” together with the ensuing emotional reactions the narrative produces from its principals. He inhabits every line with out ever pushing his admittedly restricted, in some methods, voice into untenable territory.
It doesn’t waste a single musical word. Nor even a syllable. Clark’s core contributions to the music are chargeable for a lot of this, after all; he doesn’t squander a single phrase. Each musical phrase has that means. Nevertheless, Crawford’s arranging skills are essential. He restructures the observe in such a means that it fits his voice and creative predilections. Furthermore, “The Guitar” by no means overstays its welcome with listeners. It has a mandate, fulfills that with no fuss, and leaves listeners wanting extra.
The manufacturing offers it a dramatic high quality with out ever being too heavy-handed. Crawford and his collaborators work effectively collectively to take care of a near-perfect stability between his singing and the instrumentation. It engages listeners bodily with out ever threatening to overwhelm them. This type of consideration to element and presentation illustrates how Crawford has discovered his classes effectively each on his personal and as a member in such gifted outfits just like the Wilson Banjo Co. – he offers the viewers as well-rounded of a musical expertise as they will hope to listen to.
We will anticipate he’ll proceed doing so over the approaching years. Andrew Crawford’s musical journey is intensive to date, however a launch similar to this reveals that he’s simply starting, in some methods, to appreciate the attain of his potential. His selection for materials might scarcely be higher – wherever he could also be, it’s tough to imagine that the legendary Man Clark could be dismayed by Crawford’s cowl of “The Guitar”.
Mindy McCall
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