Album: Uncorked - Al Stewart Live With Dave Nachmanoff

 

Reviewed by Mike O'Cull

 

British singer / songwriter and folk / rock musician Al Stewart is best known for his star turn in the mid 1970’s brought about by his platinum selling albums “Year Of The Cat,” and “Time Passages.” His latest release, Uncorked – Al Stewart Live with Dave Nachmanoff, is a more intimate effort than the music Stewart was recording back in the day and features thirteen of his songs, which were performed live in an acoustic duo format, with lead guitarist and Uncorked producer David Nachmanoff. This is the first live acoustic CD for Stewart since 1992’s Rhymes In Rooms, and this collection is comprised of a totally different set of songs from those found on the previous live release. This meant leaving off his biggest hits, which most artists and labels would consider a form of suicide, but actually works quite well for Stewart in this context. Stewart has released almost twenty albums of songs over the years and, with that much material available, it doesn’t make much sense to double down on any one song. Stewart instead, hits highlights from his considerable catalogue and really breathes life into the material in a duo setting.

 

Stewart’s folk background is obvious on Uncorked and, while there are some pop-ish moments here, his more narrative-based lyrics seem the order of the day. He is capable of writing longer songs without losing his focus and dissolving into confusion, while he lets his words tell their stories in their own time, without the rushed pace so often found in music made for radio play.

 

High points on Uncorked are many, and they include “Coldest Winter,” and “Warren Harding.” A bonus on every song is the fine guitar playing of Nachmanoff, who blends with Stewart’s guitar very well and adds considerable musical interest to the proceedings, especially when he steps to the fore on “News From Spain.”

 

Throughout the album, Stewart and Nachmanoff do not merely play and sing well, they genuinely sound like they are having fun and the set has the looseness and liveliness that are hallmarks of a great gig. While this might not be a chart-topper due to the current tastes of the pop music market, this is an excellent disc for fans of Stewart and fans of outstanding acoustic music in general.

 

Please visit the Dave Nachmanoff website to listen to tracks from and purchase the album Uncorked Al Stewart Live With Dave Nachmanoff.

 

Reviewed December 2009

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