GRAMMY-winning guitarist Tommy Emmanuel released Living In The Light, his first solo album in ten years. Recorded and mixed with producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Phish), Living in the Light is a virtuosic blend of acoustic pop, jazz, classical, and roots music delivered by one of the modern era’s most accomplished and versatile guitarists.
The album release arrives with the official video for Emmanuel’s rendition of the Sharon O’Neill hit “Maxine,” which “finds Emmanuel channeling his virtuosity into something more personal… [he] masters his instrumental arsenal” (American Blues Scene). Widely acclaimed for his instrumental acoustic guitar work, Emmanuel reveals his rarely-seen talents on “Maxine,” taking on lead vocals and performing both electric guitar and bass.
Tomorrow, October 11, Emmanuel will kick off a national tour in support of the album at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, followed by performances in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York City’s Carnegie Hall on October 30 with Richard Thompson. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit his website.
“This song was a big hit in Australia in the 80s,” says Emmanuel. “It’s the story of a young prostitute who is playing with fire in her life. The storyteller wants to understand and help her. The composer, Sharon O’Neil, is an old friend with a gift for storytelling.”
Emmanuel captured most of the performances on Living in the Light in one or two takes, and the sense of joy and wonder in these sonic explorations is more than just palpable; it’s intoxicating. While many of the recordings are solo instrumentals, Emmanuel lends his voice to several of the album’s tracks as well, grounding his dazzling, percussive fretwork with a poignant dose of warmth and vulnerability.
“There are elements of rockabilly, blues, even traditional African music all woven into the music,” Emmanuel explains. “I’m a world traveler, and I’ve absorbed so much music along the way. It all gets synthesized through a kind of osmosis into my psyche and my soul and then comes out in my own unique style.”