When it comes to music I have always found it of value to
have my sensibilities challenged, it is part of the fun. I try to have an open
mind about all music forms and not be one of the “That ain’t Bluegrass” or
“That’s not Folk”, or pick any other genre and fill in the blanks. I also never
waste time trying to figure out what genre a particular piece or style belongs
to, you can go crazy doing that and it serves no purpose (think Rushad Eggleston
or Ryan Cavanaugh here, fantastic stuff, but don’t try to drop it in a
particular hole).
Still, being a semi-normal human, I am subject to flaws and
one of them is that when a I hear of a new CD by a particular super Banjo
player, joined by a bunch of long time jam buddies, I have certain expectations
going in. One is that the music will be dominated by said Banjo, and another is
that there will be some small opportunities for the other musicians to shine
once or twice through the album. Perhaps there will even be another musician in
the mix with great chops that will help carry the load. At least that it pretty
much what I was thinking when I got the Kripplekrunk album from Rex
McGee.
Rex and the boys took me back to school.
If you’ve never heard of Rex, and you likely have not, let me
give you some background. Rex comes from a musical family and started out on
fiddle at a very young age, picking up the banjo a few years later and becoming
a regular at the Galax Fiddlers convention every year since the mid-eighties.
Rex maintains both his fiddling and banjo picking at a very high level, having
been a touring performer before a family, home, and all the big stuff came into
his life. Leaving the road to provide for his family, Rex is now re-emerging on
the scene, and boy is he coming out strong. Banjo players reading this may be
aware that Rex released a CD back in 2000 titled “24 Creations for Solo Banjo”
which became a study guide for many Melodic, Celtic, and Jazz 5 string players.
Out of print and unavailable at this time, Rex has been encouraged by many to
get the album back up for digital sale. I can share the good news here that Rex
has it on his list of things to do and hopes to have it out this year. (I think
he just wants to get me off his back.)
But I digress, I said they took me to school. Rex’s cohorts
on this CD are the buddies he has been jamming at Galax with for years. This is
by no means a ‘backing band’ for Rex’s playing. No, this is a collaboration of
the finest kind. Rex did all the arrangements and composing on this offering,
but he obviously did it knowing what (and who) he was working with. They did the
recording jam style, in a studio, mostly without headphones, and NO overdubbing.
All ‘one-takes’ with the minor errors still in there for flavor (I only hear one
of these, but I keep looking). This music is all original and fresh, very fresh.
Oh and tasteful, did I mention tasteful? This keeps the learning ear very busy
through the entire album. It’s not just that the music is new, it is the way the
music is played that strikes me as different. Some has a taste of Jazz (Lil’
Krunk Getaway), some leans directly at Celtic (Krunkberry Blossom), some
straight up Bluegrass with twists (Poison Vine), and there is even a piece in
there that brings to mind dinner music in a very refined restaurant (TNABCB),
(yeah, I know that’s weird, but my head is a strange place and no, I don’t
understand the title either).
Every musician on this work brings wonderful additions to
each piece, not just little featured break here and there. For the discerning
ear, listening to the back-up work provides some neat little lessons and big
ones too. It seems like nobody is laying back on the entire production. Playing
with Rex are John Garris on guitar, Danny Knicely on mandolin, Nate Leath on
Fiddle, Dennis Lee on bass, Booby Martin playing Cajon Fiddle on ‘Big Yellow
Tent’, Every one of these guys plays at a very high level and each one blew me
away with what they offered up. Somehow, someday I HAVE to see these guys play
together, preferably around a campfire, but if we can figure a way to get them
to come north for some of the festivals like Grey Fox, or Joe Val, then a lot
more folks will know what I am talking about here.
When you listen to this CD, I am sure you will hear the banjo
loud and clear, but I am not sure you will think “Oh, this is a banjo album”, at
least I didn’t. Rex isn’t one to overload a tune with a lot of fancy licks, he
has them and uses them where they fit, but Rex seems to focus mostly on what is
right for that tune and arrangement, and this includes the other instruments. My
perception is that all these musicians are thinking the same thing. When I say
‘fancy licks’, let me tell you Rex has got some that I can’t even figure out
when I am watching him do it. To put it another way, I watched Rex sit in at a
gig 2 weeks ago. In the audience were Bill Keith and Eric Weisberg, front row.
Every once in a while I would glance over and see Eric leaning forward, smiling,
and bopping his head. Bill was leaning back in his chair, watching Rex and had
this big smile on his face. Impressing those two is no small feat. That same
night, Maria Muldaur was in the audience (I know, now you think I am making this
up, but if I’m lyin’, I’m Dyin’) and after Rex played a intricate melodic intro
to Sailor’s Hornpipe that mimicked a classical harpsichord piece, Maria jumped
up and said “WOW!” and began to applaud as he was launching into the Hornpipe.
Stupid me, I just sat there with my mouth hanging open. Wow
Indeed.
A better description of the contributing musicians can be
seen by Clicking Here (scroll down). You can find this Fine CD for purchase by Clicking Here.
Rex’s You Tube Channel can be found by Clicking Here. Click Here for the Kripplekrunk ReverbNation channel.
Rex is a creative player with his own style for sure. Here
is a video of his tune “A-Minor” from his “24 Creations…” CD. If you are a
player, or a good listener, I challenge you to listen to this with your eyes
closed and figure out how he gets that percussion beat in there. Then listen
again and watch. I bet you didn’t see that coming, did ya? No peeking
now.
So hopefully you can see there is some depth and creativity
here and I also hope you check into Rex and his bunch even further. It is so
nice to hear something with comfortable flavors presented in a new and
interesting way. Watch for much more from these guys in coming years, and Rex
especially. Just a few weeks ago I was asking myself why I had never heard of
this guy before. After having met him and spent some time with him, I still
can’t answer that but I can tell you I will be looking for everything he puts
out from here on. Check him out.
Here’s one final video and Rex and the crew performing one from the CD
…..
Ah Hell, here's another one, I love this tune:
Keep the Beat,
Tom
