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 Tommy Emmanuel with Jerry Douglas |
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Review and photos by Frances Sealy People expect an electric, mind-blowing experience when Tommy Emmanuel comes to town. The fans at his most recent show got a double dose of a mind-blowing experience with Jerry Douglas on the tour.Emmanuel was borne in Australia and moved to the U.S. Even though he spends much of his life on the road, he still gleans excitement from performing before a sold out show. Jerry Douglas is considered to be the premier resonator and lap steel guitar performer alive today. His list of recordings and accomplishments is staggering. He has worked as a sideman with legends like Paul Simon, John Fogerty, Ray Charles, Ricky Skaggs, and many more. Having two virtuosos on the same bill was a no miss opportunity. There is little doubt that Tommy Emmanuel is an acoustic guitar god. The stage was set with only three Macon acoustic guitars and two microphones. It is amazing that Emmanuel has made a career touring constantly solo on the stage, but what he does with his guitar is pure magic. His finger picking appears like it is on fast-forward. One can only wonder how he thinks so fast. Emmanuel boasts that he is "in the Happiness business." He has had no music lessons. He can't read music. He never went to college. He attributes his success to hard work, dedication, and determination. By the age of six years old, Emmanuel was the youngest professional guitar player in the world. He, later, came to the U.S. to meet and work with Chet Adkins. Adkins was the master of guitar picking and Emmanuel emulated Adkins' style of playing. The personable performer explained how he plays bass, drums, the horn section, and lead guitar on a single acoustic guitar at the same time. He quipped, "Look at the money I'm saving." This was a technique that was inspired by Adkins. However, Emmanuel has perfected the technique. The incredible thing about Emmanuel is the harmonics of his performance never leads the listener to think that there is just one man on stage. "Guitar Boogie" is a fine example of his fiery finger picking. He introduced the song as a tribute to his brother, Phil. "I lost my brother, Phil, recently. This is the first song we learned to play together." The bottom line is that Emmanuel is mesmerizing during his live shows. For a link to an interview with Emmanuel, click here. Douglas is a bluegrass master and he may be best known for his work with Alison Krauss and Union Station. This performance was a slick representation of just what Jerry Douglas does. He is the Mohammad Ali of the Dobro guitar. Douglas has 14 solo albums to his credit. However, he has played on more than 1,600 albums. He has won14 Grammy Awards even though he has been nominated for 31 Grammys. The Country Music Association has awarded him Musician of the Year three times. He is a ten-time recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association Dobro Player of the Year Award. The list goes on. Douglas is the leader of the Jerry Douglas Band and the Earls of Leicester. The Earls of Leicester is a strictly all-star bluegrass band that is a tribute to Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. The Jerry Douglas Band is a fusion band that blends jazz, country, blues, rock, and bluegrass music. The Jerry Douglass Band's latest album release is What If. The album is a blend of instrumental and vocal music. Douglas announced early in his set "I have no skills." Nothing could be further from the truth. He plays the Dobro guitar effortlessly. Douglas' set was a mere 40 minutes. His rendition of The Allman Brothers' "Little Martha" was a standout during the set. He hinted that he would return later in the evening. The meeting of the maestros was nothing short of brilliant. Emmanuel mentioned during his interview with AXS, 'The two of us are a good combination for a tour." Nothing could be more understated. As promised earlier, Douglas was invited on stage during Emmanuel's set for a five-song duet. The two instruments blended as one as each played without egos taking over the music. Douglas had done vocals during his set. He has a compelling rasp that gives an authenticity to any song. Their rendition of Hendrix's "Hey Joe" had the older crowd on their feet shouting for more. Emmanuel has plans to tour with Douglass in 2019 when he heads to Australia. "He has a lot of fans over there." This is a show well worth catching. |
| Set list for Tommy Emmanuel | |
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1. Amazing Grace
(John Newton cover) 2. Unknown 3. One Mint Julep 4. Deep River Blues 5. You Don't Wanna Get You One of Those (Mark Knopfler cover) 6. Fuel 7. One Christmas Night 8. Beatles Medley 9. Blue Mountain Mist 10. The Mystery |
11. The Duke 12. Blue Moon 13. A Taste of Honey 14. Guitar Boogie 15. An Old Fashioned Love with Jerry Douglas 16. Halfway Home with Jerry Douglas 17. I'm on Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover) (with Jerry Douglas) 18. Hey Joe (with Jerry Douglas) Encore: 19. Waltzing Matilda (Banjo Paterson cover) |
 Tommy Emmanuel |
 Tommy Emmanuel |
 Jerry Douglas |
 Tommy Emmanuel |
 Jerry Douglas |
 Jerry Douglas |
 Tommy Emmanuel |
 Jerry Douglas |
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