kelly joe phelps

Asa Brosius · Post by **Asa Brosius** » 26 Aug 2008 5:54 pm

I was just watching a great David Lindley utube post, in which he's playing and singing solo- got me thinking about lap steel as a solo singer/songwriter instrument, which led to Kelly Joe Phelps. he was my intro. to lap style, via a Greg Brown album. very beautiful, mellow sounding guitar-a standard acoustic set up for lap-coupled with quite a dynamic voice. is he known/discussed on the forum?

Asa

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 26 Aug 2008 7:51 pm

If you do a search you will find him mentioned a few times. He is a big favorite among a few of us, as is Harry Manx who you also might like.

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 27 Aug 2008 5:02 pm

Kelly moved away from the lap style work after 2 or 3 albums. I think he has issued an equivalent number of more recent albums using Spanish style guitar.

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 27 Aug 2008 5:32 pm

Yes, I still am a bit disappointed that he doesn't at least break it out once in a while but I suppose we all choose our own path. Kelly had a fantastic approach to the instrument and I imagine I'll spend an enormous amount of time trying to get "inside" it. He is still one of the more amazing artists in the game, I am just biased in favor of the lap style work.

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 27 Aug 2008 5:39 pm

Keith - I fully agree with you. On the other hand, Kelly's new presentation must be financially attractive for him as a performer, I suppose. So, more power to him.

Asa Brosius · Post by **Asa Brosius** » 27 Aug 2008 8:32 pm

I attended a KJP show last winter at an intimate local theater in Vermont- I was also a little disappointed not to see his lap steel work- I understand he's even outsourced with Steve Dawson on some Canadian dates. KJP's guitar work at the show was a small orchestra-intricate, expressive and flawless. With that degree of command on guitar, I can see how a flat bar could be limiting.