‘Certified Guitar Player’ had his album finished in 3 days
With 320 gigs in one year it’s no wonder Tommy Emmanuel recorded his album in double quick time. He talks to about his partnership with John Knowles
UNLIKE many musicians, guitarist Tommy Emmanuel’s not one to spend months buried in a studio, making a new record. “We were in LA for three days and had the whole thing finished,” says Tommy of the just-out Heart Songs, a collaboration with fellow fingerstyle guitarist John Knowles.
“That’s the way to do it,” he smiles. “Me and John just sat side-by-side in the studio, with a baffle [screen] between us, and we just played like we were playing to an audience.
“Basically, I was getting on that microphone and milking it for all it was worth, trying to get as much juice out of my guitar as I possibly could,” he chuckles.
Featuring a collection of acoustic guitar instrumental covers of well-known tunes – such as How Deep Is Your Love (The Bee Gees), He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (The Hollies) and Cold Cold Heart (Hank Williams) – Heart Songs may have been recorded in a matter of hours, but the planning took Tommy and John a little longer.
“It was over a period of about two years of seeing each other when I was back in Nashville and Skyping from time-to-time, and making suggestions,” Tommy recalls. “I gave John a list of songs and he learnt some of them; and he gave me a list of his ideas, and some of the songs matched – like Somewhere, from West Side Story, Where Is Love [from Oliver!], and Billy Joel’s Lullabye (Good Night, My Angel).
Some arrangements, such as Lullabye, came together quickly, but others, notably Somewhere, required harder graft.
“We went onto YouTube and found the video of Tony talking to Maria from the film, how their love is going to work... ‘there’s a place for us, somewhere’. And then they go into the song. So we had the idea of having a little [musical] conversation piece at the start. I start it off with a little run and John answers, like Maria; I ask another question, and then he answers, and then I go into [sing’s] ‘there’s a place for us...’”
As Tommy and John continue the Bernstein/ Sondheim ballad, they seamlessly pass the melody between each other.
“That arrangement – there’s a lot in it, and it took a long time to get to it.”
Playing with various bands throughout the 1970s-80s, he toured the world and soon established himself as a solo act, earning a reputation for being one of the best guitarists in the business.
Such was his reputation, that Chet Atkins, the Nashville legend known as ‘Mr Guitar’, awarded him the title CGP (Certified Guitar Player) – one of many honours he’s amassed over the years.
It was through Chet, a major inspiration on the young Tommy, that he met John. However, he was already familiar with John’s work arranging for Chet and writing his book dissecting country artist Jerry Reed’s distinctive guitar style. As a result, it seemed inevitable that the two would work together.
“I called John in 2009,” recalls Tommy of their first collaboration. “I was making my first Christmas album, and said, ‘I got a project and I need a co-conspirator, why don’t you come over to my house and we’ll have a little play?’ He came over and two hours later we had Jingle Bells and Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer up and running! They were interesting arrangements, going places, and we just really clicked.
“So every time I’d be back from tour, I’d call John up and we’d race down to our favourite coffee shop, get a cup, and sit out on the veranda, and just play. That’s the kind of relationship we have. “
Although Tommy and John have been touring the US together, the 77-year-old American guitarist won’t be joining Australian Tommy for his forthcoming UK appearances.
“When I come to Great Britain I’ll have JD Simo with me,” he says of his guest, who previously appeared on Tommy’s 2018 album Accomplice One. “JD’s a powerhouse singer and player. He’ll do a set; I’ll play, and then we’ll be closing the night together.”
After the UK trip, Tommy has further dates planned for Australia, Asia, China, Russia, and Poland, guitar camps in the US and South Africa, and a new solo album to finish writing. He’s also in the process of relocating from Nashville to California, where his young daughter attends school and his wife works for tech giant Apple.
“I’ve got a bunch of stuff going on, but I’m trying to not be as busy as I was last year – that was a helluva year!” he declares. “I did about 320 gigs last year. I’ve cut down a lot this year, so it’s about 250.”
Despite the fact he’s also a grandfather, with two daughters and granddaughter in the UK to he hopes to see more of, Tommy struggles to envisage reducing his activities much further or (heaven forbid) retiring. Driven by a lifelong desire to learn, “be creative” and perform, it is – he says - who he is.
“It’s hard when all you know is playing music and travelling. It’s hard to unlearn that, to get it out of your bones,” he says. “I love doing this so much, I love playing concerts so much… I just feel like I wouldn’t have anything to live for if I stopped doing it!”
●●Tommy Emmanuel CGP plays Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on March 9. For tickets, see warwickartscentre.co.uk