Iridium New York, NY
Contact: monica@thinkpress.net
Web: andymckee.com
Players: Andy McKee, harp guitar, baritone guitar, standard guitar
Playing to a sold-out audience, guitar guru Andy McKee showcased his unique mastery of fingerstyle guitar, which allows for a variety of musical styles including classical, folk, jazz, and blues, creating his own rich, textured sound. McKee melds his technical prowess with his own original creations while incorporating works of other composers.
His current tour marks 20 years since the release of his debut album Art in Motion. McKee’s launch into the public eye in 2005 began with the album’s release where its featured work, “Drifting,” subsequently went viral on his YouTube channel. Other songs soon followed suit. McKee has received acclaim from renowned artists such as Josh Groban, Prince, Lee Ritenour, and David Foster, some of whom he has had the privilege of touring with.
The set kicked off with “Art of Motion” on standard guitar, an Americana-like, driving piece where McKee is covering the chords and melody alternately, followed by his arrangement of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
McKee shared plenty of personal notes adding backstory and context to his guitar and songwriting journey. About halfway through the performance, just when you think it’s not possible for the bar to be raised any higher, McKee unveiled his harp guitar, an instrument unfamiliar to many in the audience. Although it comes in various forms, it’s defined by its harp-like open unstopped strings with at least one unfretted string lying off the main fretboard. It was on this instrument that we heard “Into the Ocean,” inspired by a trip to California where he first encountered the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, as well as “The Friend I Never Met.” Finally, switching to baritone guitar, he played several more pieces including his arrangement of the “Mii Channel Theme” by Kazumi Totaka. He then came full circle, closing the show with the song that started it all: “Drifting.”
Though his musicianship is beyond reproach and his compositions sublime, expanding the repertoire to include a couple of more widely known songs might even further his connection with the audience, especially for those new to his music.
Andy McKee is essential listening, not only for guitarists, but for any instrumentalist trying to up their game. If you’re simply a fan of the guitar, you won’t want to miss one of his performances. He is a reminder that passion, blood, sweat, and tears make for great artistry.
