"Seven
albums into his career, the jazz guitarist turned acoustic country
blues man has increasingly been balancing old standards an forgotten
nuggets with his own material. For 'Tap the Red Cane Whirlwind',
his current live album, the only non originals included are Skip
James' "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues" and Rev. Gary Davis' "I
am the Light of the World", and while this may not delight the
traditionalists it's difficult to raise much cause for complaint
when you hear dusty voiced Phelps picking his way through the hauntingly
plaintive "Cardboard Box of Batteries"
or the melancholic "Not So Far to Go"."
"Over the years, he's graduated to a level on par with the likes of Waits
and Springsteen in his storytelling as he weaves his tales of life's bruised
hearts in search of their dreams and his fingers slide over the guitar strings
like it's God strumming the notes. Frankly even six minutes or so in the company
of "Tommy"
or "Waiting for Marty" just doesn't seem long enough. Soak
up and enjoy."
"Seven
albums into his career, the jazz guitarist turned acoustic country
blues man has increasingly been balancing old standards an forgotten
nuggets with his own material. For 'Tap the Red Cane Whirlwind',
his current live album, the only non originals included are Skip
James' "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues" and Rev. Gary Davis' "I
am the Light of the World", and while this may not delight the
traditionalists it's difficult to raise much cause for complaint
when you hear dusty voiced Phelps picking his way through the hauntingly
plaintive "Cardboard Box of Batteries"
or the melancholic "Not So Far to Go"."