Search - Jon Rauhouse :: Steel Guitar Heart Attack

Bob Wills meets Glenn Miller meets Esquivel's space-age bachelor-pad music as steel guitarist Jon Rauhouse blurs the distinction between hipster retro and postmodern cool. Though many of the cuts are instrumental, including a cartoon romp through "Holiday for Strings" and a revival of the theme from TV's Mannix, Rauhouse also spotlights the vocals of some luminaries he's served as a sideman. Kelly Hogan nails the Marty Robbins gunfighter ballad "Big Iron," Neko Case delivers a dreamy "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)," and Sally Timms sounds particularly breathy and torchy on "I'll Be Seeing You." Guitar partner Tommy Connell and members of Calexico provide much of the musical backing, as Rauhouse plays Hawaiian guitar and banjo in addition to his signature steel. The 18 selections place a premium on tone and ensemble interplay rather than displays of hot licks. --Don McLeese