Redd Volkaert
Reddhead
Telehog Records
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also available on amazon
This disc is a showcase for this legendary guitarist, considered a master of the Telecaster; Redd has earned the appellation with good old-fashioned hard work. Born and raised in Western Canada he honed his craft and was playing in bars in Vancouver and Alberta by the time he was 16 before moving to LA in the 90s to do session work. In 1997 when Merle Haggard needed a new guitar player for the Strangers he asked the band who was the best, they all said Redd and that was that, no audition. On this disc we are we are treated to 7 songs he wrote, or co-wrote, and then some gems by masters such as Jack Gamble and Wayne Carson Thompson (the Box Tops classic, “The Letter”), as well as an instrumental gem by Buddy Emmons, “Raisin’ The Dickens”, which is a fantastic showcase for not only Redd on guitar, but everyone in the band gets to step forward and take a series of scorching solos.
He recorded this record in Austin, Texas, his adopted home where he now plays with two other bands (Heybale and The Lucky Tomblin Band) that continue that blending of the Bakersfield sound with Western Swing and Cowboy Jazz. The band with on this includes Heybale’s Gary Claxton as a special guest on harmony vocals, Buzz Evans on Steel Guitar, Chris Gilson on drums, Nate Rowe on bass, and Rich Harney on keyboards and of course Redd on guitar and vocals. This is a well recorded disc that has great sonic quality that allows all the nuances of Redd’s guitar work to be clearly heard.