“Gods” I told them. It was 1976 and we were debating great guitarists. It was a lazy Saturday night. Here we were in the first semester of college, all of us nearly penniless and all a long way from home.
The sixth floor residents were thrown together by College Housing because we all had some form of musical talent. My Rush-crazy roommate played electric bass through a full stack. He also played tuba in the university’s marching band. He practiced both in our 12 foot by 18 foot room. Across the hall were two guys that played every known Allman Brothers song like Dwayne Allman and Dicky Betts, note for note, at ear-splitting volumes. There were also a few piano players on the floor until the baby grand got tossed out a balcony window - but that’s another story.
The top level guitarists would be considered “Gods” I indicated. Thus, we had to decide whether a certain guitarist was a God or could become a God. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Dwayne Allman, Carlos Santana, Django Reinhardt, Andres Segovia, Carlos Montoya, Chet Atkins, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia and Joe Pass were all designated “Gods” without objection. Then the game got interesting. The debate centered on whether Alex Lifeson, Al Dimeola, Brian May, Roy Clark, Billy Gibbons, Earl Klugh and George Benson were or could become “Gods.” It was 1976 and, as silly as this might sound today, very few of us had great music experience outside of mainstream FM radio. We had never even heard of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore, Larry Carlton or Tom Principato.
I bet I know what you’re thinking.You just read that last sentence and thought to yourself who in the H E double hockey sticks in Tom Principato? If you don’t know who Tom Principato is I suspect you will after his eight track album A Part Of Me is released on January 11, 2011. Principato has been around since my days in the university dorms. Based in Washington D.C. he has confined much of his considerable talent to the East Coast. He plays well with others - ike blues legends Big Mama Thornton, Sunnyland Slim and James Montgomery. In 1984 he started a solo career and he has released 16 albums and 2 DVD’s. He is also the author of music publisher Hal Leornard’s book "Open-String Guitar Chords."
You may think, “okay, he may be good but good guitarists are a dime a dozen. Sixteen albums and 2 DVD’s and I still haven’t heard of him. Must not be that special.”
While you might be able to make that argument with regard to some of his other work, A Part Of Me is “that special.” On it Principato wrote all of the music. Then he went out and added a few amazing guest performers - Sonny Landreth (the legendary blues guitarist), Chuck Leavell (keyboardist for Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones), Brian Auger (the legendary Hammond organ master), Wayne Jackson (Memphis Horns’ sideman to Otis Redding, Albert King and Al Green), Jim Brock (percussionist and drummer for Joe Walsh and Joe Cocker) and Willie Weeks (Eric Clapton’s bass player). Principato also recorded with his personal band- Steve Wolf and Jay Turner on bass, Joe Wells on drums and Josh Howell on congas and percussion.
The album commences with a very Allman Brothers-like song, “Don’t Wanna Do It” that contains a hot Sonny Landreth slide solo and a wonderful, but controlled, Principato counterpoint. Principato’s voice gives the song just the right amount of southern drawl. “Sweet Angel” is a smooth blues with a great little Chuck Leavell Hammond organ lead. “Part Of Me” follows - a slow ballad with a nice blues rhythm, Hammond organ, and a wonderful horn section that consists of trumpet, sax and trombone. However, it is Principato’s soulful lead guitar solo that really shines. “Down The Road” is a syncopated country jazz instrumental that shows off Principato’s crossover chops. Brian Auger’s keyboards also get a workout. “Down In Lou’siana” is a hot, dirty, creole jambalaya mix of a party song. Principato plays a wonderful electric guitar throughout the stompin’ with fantastic lead interludes and Leavell’s Hammond work makes the entire effort a veritable Mardi Gras. “Back Again & Gone” is a fingerstyle guitar jazz instrumental where Principato shows off another aspect of his guitar virtuosity. It is as close to a George Benson/Larry Carlton type vibe as Principato gets. “Stranger’s Eyes” is a smooth blues with the feel of a Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers/Dave Mason/Van Morrison mixtape. Sort of “Moondance” meets “Spooky.” “Stranger’s Eyes Pt. 2” instrumentally reprises “Stranger’s Eyes” with a much nastier distorted lead guitar. Bottom line - this is great stuff.
So here I am some 35 years since that Saturday dormitory conversation. Looking back I have come to one ultimate truth that arose from our attempt to categorize guitarists. We all must find our own guitar “Gods.” This week Tom Principato is mine.
- Old School
Buy here: Part of Me
