When I first saw videos of Thomas Leeb on Youtube, I really couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He starts tapping out a rhythm on the body of his acoustic guitar and then gradually adds hip chord voicings, harmonics and melodies the way a master chef would gradually add ingredients to a  delicious recipe. Before you know it, you are wondering how all of this remarkable, beautiful music is coming from one man with one guitar. Simply mystifying.

 Thomas sent me a copy of his latest CD, “Desert Pirate”. After listening to it twice all the way through, and re-gaining some strength in my knees, I could only imagine the album that Thomas and Chet Atkins would produce, as they surely would, if we were still blessed with Chet’s presence.

“Desert Pirate” contains ten pieces of pure guitar mastery.  The opening cut, “Grooveyard” moves with intensity and passion, and does so with the musical purity that can be delivered only through an acoustic guitar.  That is the only instrument you will hear on this album. Acoustic guitar.

Thomas has taken guitar technique to a level that goes beyond traditional teaching methods.  Guitar students are flocking to learn as Thomas has sold out his 4th annual workshop in Austria this Summer. Not only has he mastered the instrument from a technical standpoint, he draws from deep inside himself a feel and sense of rhythm that can only come from years of devotion to his craft.

Thomas covers Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry”.  It is the perfect cover of a beautiful tune.  Mrs. Lone Lee (a big Bob Marley fan) was listening and asked me why he doesn’t sing on it.  The instant reply from me was, “There is no need. The guitar is providing the voice within the melody.”

The title cut, “Desert Pirate”, is an upbeat tune with a serious sounding motif.  Thomas taps the guitar in a way that conjures up images of a leprachaun dancing inside the soundhole.  This is all done in perfect time and taste.

Right now, my favorite song on this album is cut number nine, “Oft Geht Bled”.  Not sure what that means, maybe Thomas will send me a note telling me.  But it is certainly a beautiful piece. 

Be good to yourself and get a copy of “Desert Pirate”.  You will find a link to Thomas’ website on the Lone Lee Show homepage.

- Lone Lee

 

 

 

 

 

This entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 12:42 pm and is filed under Upcoming Shows. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.