Phil Keaggy
 

Phil Keaggy was mentioned here some time ago. Well, I borrowed his album "221" from my brother and have listened to it twice.

The topic was Clapton saying something about Keaggy being the greatest living guitarist. Well, it's apparent from the album that Keaggy is quite a talented guitarist - but greatest? I don't hear it. This was my first time actually hearing Keaggy, so I'm curious if there are other opinions out there.

Now I have to say, Keaggy may indeed be better than Clapton. But that doesn't make him the greatest guitartist - it doesn't even guarantee him a spot in the top 25, IMO. Clapton is good, but perhaps the most overrated guitarist in history.

Oh, and I'm probably going to add most if not all of the album to AM - it's pretty enjoyable. Covers a wide base stylistically.

220 is not Phil's best, but it has it's moments. The Great Escape really cooks.
The rumor you heard was actually about Jimi Hendrix on the Dick Cavett Show, and I have never been able to clarify it. Phil has been asked about it many times and thoroughly denies that Jimi ever made that comment.

Phil plays in several different styles. Primarily, he is a blues-based guitarist influenced by Chicago blues players, notably Mike Bloomfield. This does not mean he just shreds. I've seen him do Michael Hedges style (Acoustic Sketches), Eric Johnson, Hendrix, Clapton, Pat Metheny (Town To Town), classical, spanish, and the romantic style of Anthony Phillips. Also Santana (Agora and Follow Me Up from Master and The Musician). He also loves the Beatles, and routinely covers Paul's works (Motor of Love is one he often plays in concert).

Quite frankly, I have never seen any one studio album do his playing justice. I've seen him live 9 times. Each time I am reminded why I see him again. I've seen Clapton (461 Ocean Blvd), Howe (TFTO and Relayer), Blackmore, Christopher Parkening, Michael Hedges, McLaughlin, Dimeola & DeLucia and even Larry Carlton. All of these guys are incredible, and some cover more musical area than others.

Phil completely blows away every player I have seen in terms of tecnique, music vocabulary, and taste. He can also be quite humorous. He often does solo concerts with a jam man, and it is simply amazing what he can do with it.

Those who like Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips would absolutely love The Master and The Musician, which was influenced by Ant's The Geese and The Ghost. Yes, this is all instrumental as well. Two other great instrumental albums by Phil include Beyond Nature and Acoustic Sketches. On The Fly features Phil on the Parker Fly guitar and some of his jazzier work.

IMO, his absolute best studio album is Find Me In These Fields. It is a vocal album, but it features his playing style from Glass Harp (the band Phil started in which was an opening act for Hendrix, Chicabo, Blood Sweat & Tears, Traffic, and Alice Cooper among others.

Phil is quite simply the Victor Borge of the guitar. If you ever get a chance to see him live, do so. He is not real preachy, he is just a humble guy who shares his faith and outstanding musical talent.

Re: Phil Keaggy
 

[quote]Originally posted by progdirjim
[b]Clapton is good, but perhaps the most overrated guitarist in history.

Interesting!

I was watching an old Zeppelin DVD last weekend and my friend made essentially the same comment. He did not go far as I did however, to say that Layla was the most overrated song ever.

It's what you do with the talent - ask Eddie Van Halen on that one.

Re: Re: Phil Keaggy
 

What Zep DVD is that Rick????

Are we talking about Jimmy Page and Stairway to Heaven here????

Now that is a bit overrated as a song. When we saw Zep at Knebworth it was not one of the best gigs I'd seen. I thought Utopia blew Zep off the stage and some of the other supports eg. Fairport Convention and Commander Cody... were better too.

I read an interview with Clapton where he was talking about Jimi Hendrix, and he said something like "the difference between Jimi's approach and mine is that Jimi saw the edge and leapt over it, for better or worse. I get as close to the edge as I can, but ultimately I back away from it." That's why, for me, Jimi Hendrix is a guitar god and Clapton sunk into a morass of MOR sludge. Of course, Clapton's still alive and Jimi ain't. But Jimi was fearless when it came to taking the guitar to new places. Clapton always played it safe.

Keaggy
 

Ah, Phil Keaggy. He's great. I've got two albums by him, one with the London Festival Orchestra, and one that he did with Wes King and Scott Dente, called, uh, Keaggy, King, & Dente. I call it the Nashville Guitar Trio. All are superb.

Also, his band Glass Harp opened for Yes in the 70s on one tour.