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 remedy and interpretation of Clark’s unique imbue the efficiency with an sudden, close to jazzy, jaunt.
BANDCAMP: https://guyclark.bandcamp.com/monitor/the-guitar
It’s a significant re-imagining in Crawford’s fingers. He works with stalwart bluegrass interpreters corresponding to Wilson Banjo Co., however moments corresponding 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 completely genuine taste from starting to finish that remembers its long-ago and arguably way more humble origins.
Clark continues to be rightly considered one among nation music’s pre-eminent lyricists. “The Guitar” is a wonderful instance of why. The direct and unadorned language of the music’s lyrics instantly connects. Clark is aware of methods to strike the suitable steadiness between particular element, motion, and the suggestion of one thing extra to provide “The Guitar” a long-lasting high quality prepared for any high quality singer to take advantage of.
Crawford isn’t a historically gifted singer. His accomplishments don’t end result from virtuosic vocal pyrotechnics however, as a substitute, a masterful grasp of methods to finest make the most of emotion. He does an distinctive job balancing the storytelling considerations 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 notice. Nor even a syllable. Clark’s core contributions to the music are liable for a lot of this, in fact; he doesn’t squander a single phrase. Each musical phrase has which means. Nevertheless, Crawford’s arranging skills are essential. He restructures the monitor 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 nicely collectively to keep up a near-perfect steadiness 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 nicely each on his personal and as a member in such proficient outfits just like the Wilson Banjo Co. – he offers the viewers as well-rounded of a musical expertise as they’ll hope to listen to.
We are able to anticipate he’ll proceed doing so over the approaching years. Andrew Crawford’s musical journey is in depth to this point, however a launch corresponding to this reveals that he’s simply starting, in some methods, to appreciate the attain of his potential. His selection for materials may scarcely be higher – wherever he could also be, it’s tough to imagine that the legendary Man Clark can be dismayed by Crawford’s cowl of “The Guitar”.
Mindy McCall
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