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 surprising, close to jazzy, jaunt.
BANDCAMP: https://guyclark.bandcamp.com/observe/the-guitar
It’s an important re-imagining in Crawford’s palms. He works with stalwart bluegrass interpreters comparable to Wilson Banjo Co., however moments comparable to this illustrate his facility for branching out. It’s spectacular how skillfully Crawford’s association and the taking part in therein stay loyal to bluegrass and/or roots music traditions. It has a completely genuine taste from starting to finish that recollects its long-ago and arguably far more humble origins.
Clark remains to be rightly thought to be one in all 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 methods to strike the fitting stability between particular element, motion, and the suggestion of one thing extra to offer “The Guitar” an enduring high quality prepared for any high quality singer to use.
Crawford isn’t a historically gifted singer. His accomplishments don’t consequence 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 word. Nor even a syllable. Clark’s core contributions to the music are answerable for a lot of this, after all; he doesn’t squander a single phrase. Each musical phrase has that means. Nonetheless, Crawford’s arranging abilities are essential. He restructures the observe in such a manner that it fits his voice and inventive 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 form of consideration to element and presentation illustrates how Crawford has discovered his classes effectively 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 will 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 comparable to this exhibits that he’s simply starting, in some methods, to comprehend the attain of his potential. His selection for materials may scarcely be higher – wherever he could also be, it’s tough to consider that the legendary Man Clark could be dismayed by Crawford’s cowl of “The Guitar”.
Mindy McCall
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