Guitar players are a competitive lot. You may be imagining your local music store filled with the sound of budding guitarists trying to impress their friends — and you and everyone else — with their cover of [enter one iconic âBlackbirdâ or âStairway to Heavenâ-like tune here]. Or you may be remembering those workshops youâve attended where an audience member asks a âquestionâ thatâs a pointed answer to another audience memberâs previous question … after the instructors already gave their advice. Or perhaps youâre having a flashback to that time a picker approached you and asked what make and model of guitar you play, but in that special way that is already judging you for your gear choices before even hearing your answer.
Our Artist of the Month, Tommy Emmanuel, is truly a guitar playerâs guitar player. His audiences include some of the most dedicated, diehard, fanatical fans of the instrument. But youâll never find him falling into the my-horse-is-bigger-than-your-horse routine; he even gives away his trade âsecretsâ freely in lessons and at workshops and camps. On his latest album, Accomplice One, he shares the limelight with collaborators and living legends, giving equal footing to and creating a solid foundation for each. Itâs refreshing to watch someone with an undeniable, world-class talent direct focus to those he admires, rather than himself.
In this video of âWindy and Warm,â he does just that, paying tribute to Chet Atkins, who has inspired and influenced his playing since the very beginning. You can hear the awe and appreciation in every note. And there isnât a single competitive pick stroke.
