Kelly Joe Phelps- Down To The Praying Ground
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- čas přidán 23. 05. 2012
- Kelly Joe Phelps at the Artiste Sanctuary Concert Series at St. Jude's in Cedar City, UT
05/12/12
www.kellyjoephelps.net/
It's as thin as the edge of a razor, the road separating Heaven from Hell, sin from salvation, redemption from despair. It's a lonely road to go down and like the old gospel says, you've got to walk it for yourself. Kelly Joe Phelps has been doing lot of soul searching since his last record, 'Western Bell' came out in 2009. Three years later, his journey has wound its way to a recording studio in Vancouver, and Kelly Joe has once again beaten a path to Steve Dawson's door with a new batch of songs tucked into his satchel that reflect both the new insights gained along the journey as well as things that have been dropped by the wayside. Together Phelps and the veteran producer embarked on a three day recording odyssey that marked their fourth collaboration since Dawson played slide on 'Slingshot Professionals', produced 'Tunesmith Retrofit' and released 'Western Bell after it proved too daring for Rounder Records. The result is 'Brother Sinner and the Whale', a record that may very well come to be recognized as the best of an already very impressive body of work.
Since his debut album 'Lead Me On', came out in 1994, the Pacific Northwest based singer and songwriter has written and performed some of the most compelling slide guitar based music ever recorded. Though he spent his early years playing free jazz, he has never strayed too far from the roots music world that has become his passion. "I'd spent all this time learning improvisational music, but I'd always had an attraction to folk based music forms. So, I was listening to a lot of Chet Atkins, Merle Travis and some of the newer people like Leo Kottke and John Fahey. My music is a reflection of all the music I loved and steeped myself in. There's a space and openness in rural music that makes sense to me." Playing a lap slide in a style that both evoked the sounds of the ancients and pointed towards new possibilities for the instrument, Kelly Joe's music seemed to originate in another time as he sang with the voice of an old soul, weary with experience, yet excited with all of the prospects that life brings.
After several years of exhaustively exploring the potential of his slide, Phelps' attention gradually shifted from instrumental virtuosity towards an emphasis on songwriting. "I wanted to keep moving forward, so I began to spend more effort thinking about my songs and not so much about the guitar because ultimately, I got bored with it because I felt that I had found all I could for myself within that sound. So, the work felt finished to me."
Phelps' inquisitive mind and restless spirit have always carried him forward to new forms of expression, but experimentation is not without its costs. When 'Western Bell' baffled his record company, puzzled some fans and failed to create new audiences for his work, Phelps pulled back from recording to search for a new direction. Unexpectedly, inspiration came through a re-¬examination of his Christian roots, and resulted in an unexpected flurry of creative activity that gave birth to a whole new set of songs and a reinvigorated approach to playing the guitar as Phelps opted to play bottleneck rather than his customary lap slide to achieve a sound that wouldn't have been out of place on a classic John Fahey or Reverend Gary David record.
With song titles like 'Talking to Jehovah', 'I've been Converted' and 'The Holy Spirit Flood', there's no escaping that something has grown and changed in Kelly Joe's world. Phelps' lyrics fuse poetry from the Book of Jonah and the vintage gospel blues of Mississippi John Hurt with aspects of the early gospel work of Bill and Charlie Monroe thrown in for good measure to create what surely must be the most literary gospel songs recorded since Bob Dylan's incendiary Christian albums came out three decades ago. - Hudba
Just heard we lost this amazing one-of-a-kind artist. Rest in peace, KJP.
Rest In Peace, Kelly Joe. You were fantastic, buddy....💔
About 15 years ago my wife worked in a small theatre Kelly was playing in. After his rehearsal/soundcheck he came into her office and apologised for playing while they were working and hoped he hadn't disturbed her. She told me this that later that day and I couldn't process he had apologised to someone for making that sound.
You now have a son that looks like him
KJP seemed like one of those ultra aware, super sensitive people…very present in the current moment and grounded. I think he was an amazing person, though I only met him briefly after a gig.
He sounds like a decent man
I met him a few times before and after a show. Wanted to say hello and thank him for his music. He was a man of few words and lots of talent.
He was a rare jewel.
Although he wasn't performing in recent years he was a great musician and is a sad loss to music. I remember when I looked forrward to his album releases. RIP Kelly Joe you really are right up there with the best blues players.
I feel sad now you are gone 😥 Thank you for your music Kelly !
To quote Blind Willie Johnson, this is where the soul of man never dies! Timeless stuff
from a Master!ª
KJP is on another level. always. He is not just playing songs, he's more a storyteller and an amazing musician.
Dude is the fuckin master. Just flows through him.
Incredible stuff KJP
That riff at about 3:40 in, where he is just jamming....Simply ridiculous. God Bless you Kelly Joe Phelps for sharing that with us. Watching genius in action is a joy of life.
Kelley Joe Phelps is a spiritual paragon! My goodness he has harnessed the most captivating path to a spiritual closeness to God that I have ever witnessed. I miss him so much. It melts my heart when I can’t discover what his heart is saying, more recently, during these distressed uncertain times. His music is a beacon for me! He answers a lot of questions..............Man, KJP, if you can see this post......please let me hear more!! I implore!
Grieving the loss of this deep soul.
Rest In Peace Kelly Joe Phelps 💔😢🙏
R.I.P Kelly 😔
R.I.P brother
....praying you rise up and play it & sing it again, like only you can...more power to you....
I have been looking for something in music...I just found him...this is what I have been craving
Will see you in heaven KJP. Bless your soul sir!
Such a beautiful player and singer RIP
So sad your gone what a talent thanks for the music god bless
I discovered an album of his at work about 15 years ago. I keep returning to his music. There's a something about his blues that doesn't push or cry and demand your attention, but it's got so much soul just simmering deep. Very sad that he's passed. I hope he's at peace. His music has a resonance that's even more profound now. I never knew him, but I think you can hear that his heart was on the edge of sorrow and living, and I think that's part of what makes it so special. I'm so grateful for the art he he left for us to enjoy and remember.
I saw Kelly Joe around 98, I think a year or two after "Roll Away The Stone" was released. I'd never seen him live, only heard him on a Blues radio show. It was an open air festival, with one great, loud band after another. Then a guy in a baseball cap and check pattern shirt and jeans comes out and sits on a chair and lays the guitar across his lap, and started tuning it while the crowd were talking and getting ready for the next act . He didn't look like the slightest bit rock and roll, and I thought it was a sound check guy. Then he started to play a fast lap slide instrumental, and a whole field full of people went completely silent. It was Kelly Joe, and he made every band before and after him basically forgettable. I've collected every album since, seen him a further two or three times and had tickets booked for his last tour which he cancelled due to some kind of RSI/nerve problem. To learn of his passing at a relatively young age was shocking, and I'm not sure we'll see someone like this grace a stage again.
R.I.P KJP. Gifted musician
R.I.P.
Great synchronicity between voice and instrument. This man has the goods for sure.
R.I.P. Kelly Joe Phelps, what a sad loss, he was aged 62...
Top top man, voice and guitar⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
He has such a wonderful voice.
RIP 🙏🏻
ain't nothin' like the sound of steel body resonator guitars and dobros for expressin' the soul of the blues.....play on
Beautiful - reminds me of Ry Cooder way back in the late 70s
RIP :(
Who on earth puts a thumbs down for this. One of life’s great mysteries. I would really like to have a talk with whoever that is. I can’t fathom it.
Maybe those who like polished ,pop music. Those who don't appreciate the emotional power behind such raw music. Artists like these are on another level, they are telling a story , you feel like you are there in their shoes.
Geez, how did I never hear this guy before. And now he's gone.... Sadness...
Great, thats a new level of slideguitar !
Alex from CH
The gentle hands and voice....aint religious but I'm happy now!
Underrated, under-appreciated...and better than the album version with all the wonderful improvisations...
Nice phrasing, and use of dynamic range.
This does not come over night.
Thanks Chris
Great sound!
There are many who 'play' a song . . . but Kelly 'feels and projects'' his songs.
Rip your soulful music will continue satisfy .😅
Oh my God 🔥
Sail on, KJP - you were THE BEST at this stuff 🙏🙏🙏
Came to listen to one of my favorite songs only to be angered of hearing of his passing.. another Great human passed on to the next chapter
This guy is extraordinary
awesome!
NATIONAL TREASURE..:)'
This is just great !
A master in action, Kelly is the best ! cheers from Argentina!
wish i could meet him.he is my hero!
Increfible capturing this song
He's the full package. Awesome guitar player, singer, songwriter and honest and authentic. And then he looks like he's 30 years younger than he actually is. Unbelievable man.
He just passed away 😢
@@bluesky6985 😣 oh no. this is sad news. I hoped to see him in concert.😢
Great man
@@LukeDallert You'll have to wait till you get to heaven
Love love love
Good song
daily taking of such a handpicked organic music is good for my health
spooky how good this is. deep roots from the land the church and the history of America
Awesome
Thanks to you Reverand Kelly Joe...for God - the Creator within us all.
I am definitely going to try singing out of the side of my mouth. That might be the ONLY thing I could do to be more like KJP
Very nice.
Awesome!
I have to admit, i didn't know about this guy 'till now ....he's excellent! Ya gotta love "you tube" !
GREAT!!
Saw you open for Dave Alvin years ago in Los Angeles. Everyone should know your name. Much love
Gone too soon.
A great artist pity that we hear more about him.
Wow, almost a pop-song here. Kelly Joe rules!
a great picker
yes indeed it look like a style o to me ......sounds great in his hands
for god sake come back kelly
What a wonderful artist which such an intense and humble attitude. It's really sad that he is not performing anymore
I remember bout 20 years ago a EFMF Kelly Joe was unable to play his guitar. He has nerve issues?
@@c.s.mcleod7383 yes unfortunately he was suffering from a nerve syndrom some years ago. No one knows what he is up to. So sad
He is the only guitarist I know that plays slide standard AND lap. And a great singer.
C. S. McLeod well there's others like Kevin Breit for example or Bob Brozman
I saw Bob Brozeman once, but he didn't play lap style. Lindley doesn't even play slide standard.
1 day I will master the slide guitar 2,.. but like Kelly Joe does no one can get even close playing like that,..
that's where the musical magic lives...
divine! :-D
Sweet mama , he is fuckin awesome!
Holyshit
+1
You said all right there.
LIKE!!!!
:-) heaven
Uau!
very inspiring
According to his Facebook page, Phelps passed away in Iowa on May 31, 2022. :((
great stuff.. hoping you come out with another acoustic blues album my friend
yeah, that’s not gonna happen…
Sweeet playing
Great....ditto
Great song! Does anyone know what tuning he's playing in here?
It's open G!
National Reso...
What is the guitar he is using
National Style "O" Looks like the 14 fret.
National Resophonic style '0'
Lol
Does anybody know what happened to him?
anyone know what tuning he's in?
open G
y
Another mystery: how does a white man play and sing like that? Never seen it before. Probably will never see it again.
Heard of Charlie parr?
There’s nothing exclusive about soul to a particular race
He is fantastic but he sounds completely white to me.
@@danielgeary5215 True. Not exclusive. Just a bit more common in some races than others.