Tommy Emmanuel, A MUSICIAN’S MUSICIAN
THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN GUITARIST THRIVES ON COLLABORATION AND SPONTANEITY
TOMMY EMMANUEL
is simply one of the greatest guitar players in the world.
I can say this with absolute confidence because it’s not my opinion — it was the opinion of the legendary Chet Atkins.
Atkins pronounced his view to all who would listen back in 1997 after recording his final album of original music, “The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World,” as a series of duets with Emmanuel.
Emmanuel was already an established guitarist in his native Australia, but Atkins’ blessing elevated him to the highest echelon of country pickers.
He quietly sold out two shows at The Studio (at Hamilton Place), which take place Monday and Tuesday. Asking price for resale tickets is more than $200 and there’s only a handful of those available.
It’s a good bet most of those people in the audience on those two nights will be guitar players. They’ll be there to see the master.
Emmanuel is a musician’s musician, highly respected among his peers. Just about any of them would jump at a chance to play with him. So when he calls they usually do.
That’s exactly what he did for his most recent album, “Accomplice One.”
Among those answering the call were Mark Knopfler, Ricky Scaggs, Jason Isbell, dobro master Jerry Douglas, mandolin great David Grisman, Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, Cuban gypsy-jazz virtuoso Frank Vignola and Hawaiian ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro.
“I love playing with other artists,” Emmanuel says on the phone from Los Angeles, where he was visiting family last week. “It gives me a chance to do something different.”
Collaboration and spontaneity are what fires Emmanuel. Most of the album’s 16 tracks were recorded in one take, face to face with the guest artists.
“All of it was live in the studio,” he says. “No one’s mailing it in and no one is fixing stuff up. That’s the way I like to work.”
Emmanuel, 63, now based in Nashville, approached the sessions the same way he approaches his live performances — without a script.
That’s how he and Jerry Douglas managed to squeeze out their extraordinary acoustic cover of the Jimi Hendrix acid rock anthem “Purple Haze.”
No planning, no rehearsal, the two great guitarists sat down and traded licks, Emmanuel flatpicking with a frenzy and Douglas responding with fiery slide.
“That was one take and totally improvised. I had Jerry in to play on another track. We got that finished and we had a little time left.
“So I said, ‘Hey, you want to work on something else?’
“He said, ‘What have you got?’ “I said, ‘Why don’t we have a go at Purple Haze?’
“He said, ‘Wow, what an idea. Let’s play it.’ ”
That’s the sort of spontaneity and collaboration the audiences can expect Monday and Tuesday nights at The Studio.
Jerry Douglas won’t be there, but British and classical guitarist Clive Carroll will.
Carroll is also one of the guests on “Accomplice One,” performing with Emmanuel an Irish medley called “Keeping It Reel.”
“Clive has been one of my favourite players for a long time,” Emmanuel says.
“I’m happy he is able to come and do these dates. We love playing together. We have very different styles. He’s a much more Celtic player and I learn a lot from him.
“He’ll do some on his own, then there will be a break before I come on and do my set. Then I’ll bring Clive up and we’ll jam the night out.”
“All of it was live in the studio. No one’s mailing it in and no one is fixing stuff up. That’s the way I like to work.” TOMMY EMMANUEL Talking about recording “Accomplice One”