Kevin's Comments
It was many, many years when I first heard the music of Al and Amy. They were becoming legendary performers back East and they were winning enough music awards to sink a battleship. They were becoming the Gold Standard of performing Folk musicians on the “circuit”, attracting a very loyal (one is tempted to say “fanatical”) fan base and expanding the frontiers of their music. But in some ways it is a little misleading to label them folk musicians because their style far transcends the boundaries of folk music. All you have to do is listen to some of the searing and ultra-funky riffs of Al or some poignant piano cascades from Amy (not to mention her lilting and haunting voice) and you know at once that you are hearing a caliber of artist that is far beyond mere “folk”.  The first time I ever actually saw them perform live was just a few months ago here in California. And, like almost every world-class musician known to me, seeing them perform live is truly a wonder, really beyond what even the finest CDs can capture. Every note means something; every subtle tone and nuance paints part of the canvas. But not once do you feel their music is “constructed” (though the sophistication of it affirms it surely is brilliantly orchestrated). It was once said of Rudyard Kipling that his prose was almost perfect. But a discerning Cambridge professor said it almost had the labored look of something that was too polished, as if Kipling had agonized over every phrase and word, rewriting and editing until it gleamed too hard. He said the effect was to almost wear him out when reading Kipling. I say all this to make the point that it is very nearly the exact opposite with Amy and Al. Their music seems polished and impeccable for sure, but never labored.  It is like meeting an old and dear friend, so warm and natural and unforced. And welcoming. Yes, that’s a good word for it—welcoming and inviting. Hearing Al and Amy, almost more than any other musician we have worked with, reminds us why music is such a gift for this life.

And now for what surely is a strange part of the story, a part that has the imprint of Providence. One sunny Saturday many years ago while sitting outside in my patio chair, I got a phone call out of the blue from Al (it is the very first time we had ever talked). It would be hard to convey the sense of the call because it seemed eccentric but utterly natural to us both. Al simply said that they had been searching for what would be for him and Amy the perfect guitars. He had some fabulous guitars for sure but when he saw mine (not “played” one mind you—just saw a photo of one) he sort of “knew” it was probably going to be the one for them. And in talking to Al I also suspected the fit was going to be good for me. Someone eavesdropping on the line would have thought it sounded preposterous after so tenuous a phone call but I can say both Al and I instinctively knew we were a great fit for each other right on the spot. The guitars (as they would ultimately prove to be for them) were indeed perfect for their style and sensibilities. And Amy and Al have been such a wonderful fit for us, having the kind of candor and integrity in their musicianship that means more than any paid endorsement or slick marketing scheme could ever mean. It took just a few moments on the phone for us both to be pretty certain we would most likely have an enduring friendship. And now for many years ahead we can count ourselves fortunate indeed to be associated with such outstanding artists and human beings.