Search - Larry Keel, Natural Bridge :: Backwoods

More proof that Larry Keel is among the coolest flatpickers

Nobody important | 03/11/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I will preface this by saying that Larry Keel may be my favorite flatpicker around. He picks with the aggressive authority of early Dan Crary, the off-kilter timing of Clarence White, and the exploratory leanings of Tony Rice. There are faster and cleaner flatpickers around, but none more distinctive. With a few exceptions, most flatpickers sound pretty much the same. Larry Keel has an even more distinctive style than David Grier or Jim Hurst, which more than makes up for the fact that he can't play quite as fast or as clean as those two luminaries. I am not attempting to bash any of the other guitarists I have just named. I worship them all, but I am attempting to emphasize just how strongly I am praising Larry Keel, who Del McCoury called one of his three favorite guitarists of all time. He is that cool.



This album is listed as Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, but the style of the album as less traditional than the first Natural Bridge album. It is not quite as experimental as the "Larry Keel Experience" albums, though. It is an attempt to strike more of a balance similar to that of Magraw Gap. I don't like this album quite as much as the Magraw Gap album, which is one of my favorite bluegrass albums of all time, but that album contains the same balance of traditional and progressive styles. If you like aggressive, progressive rough-around-the-edges bluegrass, you can't go wrong with this one.



Further listening:



Obviously, Magraw Gap, or Big Daddy Bluegrass band (two of the better Larry Keel projects).



Good Medicine's "Prompt, Temporary Relief," is a nice and surprisingly traditional bluegrass album by Jeff Mosier, later founder of the Blueground Undergrass.



The Steeldrivers' self-titled album. The instrumental work on this one is fairly straight-forward bluegrass, but the singer's gravelly voice gives it a unique edge. (Honestly, I'd love to hear Larry play guitar for these guys instead of singing himself since the Steeldrivers' singer does what Larry tries to do with his voice).



Acoustic Syndicate's "Live from the Neighborhood." Steve McMurry from AS collaborated with Larry on Big Daddy Bluegrass Band, and on Miles & Miles. 'Nuff said.



Yonder Mountain String Band: Any of their live albums. These guys like to stretch out live, and they play with an aggressive style similar to Larry Keel. Unfortunately, the mandolin player tends to fall back on the same riff a bit too often, but the guitarist and banjo player are outstanding.



The Waybacks, "Way Live." If you like Larry Keel, you'll like these guys. They are very much kindred spirits.

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