Search - Phil Keaggy :: Jammed!

Keaggy unleashed!

Ian Martin | Auckland New Zealand | 06/22/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I suppose I count myself as a PK fan, with over 20 of his albums in my collection. But the ardent fans are the ones who talk daily on PK email digests and probably have 40 plus of his 50 or more albums. Those fans all would have this album already and would have heard a number of these tracks on his Premium Jams collection as well. So I am not writing for fans - they won't hesitate to buy. I write for those who may have heard of this wonderful musician and guitarist but never really listened to much of his work. Keaggy who has regularly listed high in the Guitar Player readers polls for fingerstyle and acoustic playing shows us his electric side on this album.



If you like guitar music, particularly classic blues rock then you're in for a treat. This is gritty blues unleashed on all guitars from Parker Flys to Fenders. The accompanying notes are great to check out for who played with him, his inspiration and the equipment and guitars used. Although Keaggy is a great vocalist, lyricist and composer, this album is instrumental all the way through. Although he has added to some of these tracks after the initial recordings, I still found them fresh and inspiring.



Keaggy tips his hat to his influences with blues in the style of Mike Bloomfield and Clapton. There are Hendrixian overtones as well and even a hint of the legato stylings of Holdsworth. But overwhelmingly obvious is his own inimitable style - and it's a joy to hear classic Keaggy riffs reinterpretted and played with freedom. What makes this album of jamming work is that stylistically it is not too diverse. It's all rock and blues - even when he's playing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy". That's probably just as well as Mr Keaggy has already covered everything from rock, pop, fusion, carols and orchestras, hymns to meditative worship on his other albums.



I found these jams more structured than what you may think of a bunch of musos getting together to play over a few chords. But then these are recordings of great musos and most likely some of the best of Keaggy's huge home collection. That brings me to my only criticism. There was more than enough space on the CD for at least another two or three tracks. The people who like listening to these spontaneous jams wouldn't have minded a 15 minute closer as a bonus track or a cover like Crossroads or While my guitar gently weeps. (Or else add a 15 minute Keaggy backing track so that we could join in as well!)



If you have heard his "220" instrumental album, then this is like all the extended solos that you desperately wanted to hear but were faded out on that album. I'd suggest clever improvisation and creativity on the fly is more reflective of what you hear than simply calling these 'jams'. This showcases classic Keaggy on electric including some of the heaviest Keaggy (Phlagan's Flow) I have heard since "Crimson and Blue" and also some of the most traditional blues. If you've not heard Keaggy unleashed before, this is a good album to try!"

Phil is blessed with talent !!!!

John A. Green | 03/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just got the cd and I was lucky enough to get it from his web site and have it signed by Phil.It`s awsome ,God has blessed Phil with great talent.I`ve been a fan of him since to late 70`s.Inside the cover Phil wrote down notes about each song and the dates they origanate from and who played on it.This is my first time to write a review so I`m not that great.But if your a true Phil Keaggy fan you`ll love it trust me.Songs on the CD inclued, Route Canal, Phlagan`s Flow, Kegworth Speaks, Blueberry Jam , Zee Blues, Sherlock Ohms, Elect Rick, Joyphil, Revisited Jelly, Watt Ever, Prehistrobie K-18, Kegworth Reconsiders"

Brilliant master musician

D Strong | COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA United States | 05/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ironically, the average fret-shredder whizing up and down the guitar neck may never have heard of Keaggy; most likely, however, the garden variety guitar virtuoso - vai, satch, petrruci, for instance - will probably know and respect the name. He easily equals them, a highly gifted artist who evolved his talents over years - and well ahead of the current crop of guitar greats, having shown phenomenal guitar and music prowess years before Yngwie ever burned a fret. Music for musicians, for guitarists, and for souls"