Susan Alcorn

Mike Daly · Post by **Mike Daly** » 18 Apr 2015 4:21 pm

Last Saturday evening I had the pleasure of hearing Susan Alcorn do a solo set here in Nashville. What a pleasure to meet her and listen to her perform. Her dedication to her art and the steel guitar should truly be inspiring to any musician, steel player or otherwise , who is striving to make a completely unique and personal approach to their music. Correct my spelling if needed... She was playing an Anapeg 12 string guitar made by the Australian guitar maker Noal Anstead running thru a Ken Fox amp. She sounded amazing. If you have the chance, do yourself a favor and see her live. And a very sweet person...! Thank you Susan...

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 18 Apr 2015 6:10 pm

Susan is a true musical genius. In my opinion, she is the most brilliant steel guitarist on the planet. Nobody else even begins to come close.

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 18 Apr 2015 6:39 pm

The world's premier Avant Garde de la Steele Guitare.

(i really don't know French)

and indeed... even her online forum vibe is sweet.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 18 Apr 2015 7:49 pm

I agree, Mike P.

Ken Campbell · Post by **Ken Campbell** » 18 Apr 2015 8:26 pm

I'm with the Mikes. Susan has an incredible sense of artistry. I admire and treasure her work. Truly special.

Anders Eriksson · Post by **Anders Eriksson** » 19 Apr 2015 3:30 am

I agree with all of you!
Susan is a great musician that have chosen (thank you) to play her music on the Pedal Steel Guitar

It's i pity though that she live in such a outta-the-way part of the world!Wait, that me that lives there

The new album Soledad is really good!
You can get it from Relative Pitch Records
http://relativepitchrecords.com/releases/rpr1032.html

// Anders

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 19 Apr 2015 3:30 am

Susan played in Austin April 16, with Bob Hoffnar.
Stephen Cowell has posted a video he did, the debut of 'Crepuscular Dreams' written for pedal steel/ trombone quartet.
http://youtu.be/zeU8psTAejw
The work is very inventive, beginning with a sound that evokes Buddhist monks chanting.
She is a pioneer of pedal steel, approaching her life and art as one.

Of several works on Utube, one of my favorites is Three Waters.

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 19 Apr 2015 11:22 am

That's interesting, because on that same night, I had the pleasure of meeting an incredible and inspiring steel guitarist named Mike Daly. I had long admired his playing, especially his two solo albums, and it was such a joy to meet and spend a bit of time with him.

As for genius and brilliance, two subjective terms, I don't consider myself a genius, and I'm definitely not the sharpest of the bunch, nor the most brilliant on the planet (though thanks, Mike P!) when it comes to the pedal steel steel guitar.
With the steel guitar and music in general, I try to follow and be faithful to my own muse wherever it leads me. So the only thing I can lay the tiniest claim to be the best at is being myself and to express a certain musical vision. In that respect, we who play the steel guitar, all of us, are brilliant shining lights, each in our own unique way in whatever we choose to play and express coming from our hearts on this so very beautiful and expressive instrument (our mind).

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 19 Apr 2015 2:35 pm

Well said, Susan!

Jim Robbins · Post by **Jim Robbins** » 19 Apr 2015 6:56 pm

Susan Alcorn wrote:
As for genius and brilliance, two subjective terms, I don't consider myself a genius, and I'm definitely not the sharpest of the bunch, nor the most brilliant on the planet (though thanks, Mike P!) when it comes to the pedal steel steel guitar.
With the steel guitar and music in general, I try to follow and be faithful to my own muse wherever it leads me. So the only thing I can lay the tiniest claim to b the best at is being myself and to express a certain musical vision. In that respect, we who play the steel guitar, all of us, are brilliant shining lights, each in our own unique way in whatever we choose to play and express coming from our hearts on this so very beautiful and expressive instrument (our mind).

Fair enough, and I like my playing, but I wish I had your chops and your ears. Sail on.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 20 Apr 2015 3:52 am

I heard Susan playing in St. Louis a few years ago and her playing had me spellbound from the very first note. If somebody can create imagination with playing, it is Susan Alcorn. I remember sitting in the front row and closing my eyes after a little while and just let the music dig into me. Mike D. said it perfectly when he called Susan's approach "art". That's what it is!

Kind Regards, Walter