Kelly Lancaster
High Lonesome Gypsy
© 2003 Kelly Lancaster
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Kelly is a powerhouse flatpicking guitarist and mandolinist specializing in his own unique blend of gypsy jazz and bluegrass.
tracks
- 1 Old Joe Clark
- 2 Sweet Georgia Brown
- 3 Minor Swing
- 4 Sam Gamgee
- 5 Kolomeike (Hot Dishes)
- 6 Everybody's Reaching Out For Someone
- 7 Sheik of Araby
- 8 Garfield's Hornpipe
- 9 Lonesome Fiddle Blues
- 10 Lifeboat
- 11 Jerusalem Ridge
- 12 Arkansas Traveler
- 13 Alabama Jubilee
- 14 Pigalle
- 15 Drowsy Maggie
- 16 Lock-Keeper
- 17 Lonesome Reuben
- 18 What A Friend I Have in Jesus
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notes
Kelly Lancaster grew up surrounded by music, in Nacogdoches, Texas. His earliest musical influence was his grandmother, Alice Joyce Lancaster Frye, who played saxophone and clarinet in an all-girl orchestra that traveled around the United States in the 1930s. Not long after he first picked up a guitar at age 12, Kelly became a regular at bluegrass jam sessions at the Oldtime String Shop in Nacogdoches. Kelly went on to develop virtuosity in both bluegrass and in gypsy jazz, and begin a lifelong career as a professional musician. At the prestigious national championships at Winfield, Kansas, Kelly took second place in guitar flatpicking at age 20, and was in the top three in mandolin three times. Kelly studied with Paul Buskirk and has played and/or recorded with artists such as James McKinney, Willie Nelson, Freddy Powers, Sam Bush, Dave Peters, Vassar Clements, and many more. Kelly's playing is characterized by dazzling technical wizardry, light-speed creative invention, versatility, and power. According to one reviewer, Kelly plays like an "American Django Reinhardt."
"High Lonesome Gypsy" is Kelly's first solo CD, and it showcases his technical and lyrical ability as well as his range. Sweet Georgia Brown, Minor Swing, Sheik of Araby and Pigalle are early swing/Gypsy Jazz standards, reflecting the influence of Django Reinhardt. Kelly's interpretations of Old Joe Clark, Lonesome Fiddle Blues, Drowsy Maggie, Alabama Jubilee, and Lonesome Reuben are fast, free and creative, while he renders a more traditional treatment of bluegrass classics Garfield's Hornpipe, Jerusalem Ridge and Arkansas Traveler. Sam Gamgee, a lovely old-timey piece composed by Steve Hartz, is followed by a Ukrainian folk tune, Kolomeike. The lead vocals of singer Brian Wunder are featured on the gospel tune Lifeboat and the ballads Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone and Lock-Keeper. The CD concludes with a meditative solo-guitar rendition of What A Friend I Have in Jesus. Kelly is also joined on the CD by violinist Vladimir Kotsiouruba and fiddler Randy Powell. We hope that you'll like what you hear.
reviews
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- author: Minor 7th Webzine
With all the attention of the International Olympic Committee these days given to steroid scandals, someone should have tested Kelly Lancaster. I mean, how else to account for his blazing speed all over "High Lonesome Gypsy?" If you like fast flatpicking, this CD should fit nicely on your shelf. According to the liner notes, most of this stuff was spontaneous in the studio - no real rehearsing, and most songs were laid down in one or two takes. Lancaster is obviously well-versed in this musical vocabulary. Kelly plays both guitar and mandolin on the disk, with a mix of traditional bluegrass (the "High Lonesome" part), and Django-influenced swing (the "Gypsy" part). Randy Powell and Vladimir Kotsiouruba bring their considerable talents to the strings. Standards come out sounding not-so-standard, with quick as light accents on "Jerusalem Ridge", and some great cross-picking on "Arkansas Traveler," while he uses both cross-picking and single note runs on Drowsie Maggie." ! When Kelly plays Django, like on "Minor Swing", he tears it up, flowing from burning chords to flaming arpeggios, while Kotsiouruba channels Stephane Grappelli. That Hot Club of France sound is captured on the charming waltz "Pigalle," and the swinging "Sheik of Araby." "Kolomeike" (Hot Dishes) transports us to 19th-century Russia with some great interplay between Lancaster's mandolin and Kotsiouruba's wailing violin. This was my personal favorite from the CD. A couple of vocal tunes make it on to the disk with Brian Wunder handling vocals. Several cuts use vintage Martin guitar, which adds a great sound to the recording. I expect Kelly Lancaster will start branching out more from his native Texas in days to come as more listeners like this High Lonesome Gypsy sound.
awsome job!! bass player is tops, fiddlings great, thumbs up!
author: gregorythis is a great cd! remarkable guitar work, the bass player is right on top of the beat ! the fiddling is as good as it gets hope to hear more like it!!!
incredible!
author: KathrynKelly's musical ability is astounding. A true musician in every sense of the word. I can't get enough of this CD!
Incredible talent.. Grabs you, This ain't muzak. This is MUSIC at it's best!
author: WayoutWaylanA real treasure. It is in my permenent play list. One of those rare cds with variety and not a boring moment. Kelly's playing is just astounding. Quality is great. The cd speaks for itself and says a lot!