Phil Keaggy & Jeff Johnson

In the early years of what has, for lack of a better term, become known as Contemporary Christian Music, those seeking a more sophisticated musical oasis didn’t have many options – thankfully, there were artists like Phil Keaggy and Jeff Johnson that we could seek out when our heads became over-saturated with ‘gospel propaganda’ and our spirits craved a more subtle spiritual cultivation. That these two artists have at long last produced a piece of work in tandem is the fulfillment of the dreams of untold numbers of instrumental music fans. The really wonderful thing is, as good as these two artists have been through the decades, they’ve never been better than they are right now – and it shows on Frio Suite.

Although ambient music is a term that many will use to describe this, any implication that this is ‘wallpaper’ music is way off-base. While the music certainly is reflective and invites the listener to a more calming place than, say, your average Stryper album, there’s a virtuosity and ardor in the playing (especially from Keaggy) that not only catches the ear but elevates the musically-sensitive soul to a higher place.

Jeff Johnson masterfully creates almost-mystical sound-beds with his evocative but subtle keyboard work, his vocal washes and recorded natural sounds. With Johnson’s ethereal yet melodic sensibility to play off of, Keaggy performs with a fluidity and freedom that harkens back to his groundbreaking album, The Master and the Musician, a sonic reference that makes its appearance in the first track, “Of Time and the Frio,” and reappears in various spots throughout. Both men seem totally in their element.

Just short of an hour, and with tracks that vary from a little over four minutes to just over eight in length, Frio Suite is a musical tribute not just to the Frio River but to spirituality, contemplation, and the beauty of God as revealed in nature. As any long-time fan of Johnson’s might expect, the sound of the river itself makes an appearance on the album. The project is part of a collaboration with visual artist, Kathy Hastings, whose work appears on the package art. The individual musical pieces, with titles such as “Riding the Stone Waves,” “Just Below the Surface,” and “Between Heaven and Earth,” aren’t so much musical descriptions of a place or time as tributes to the feelings and contemplations attached to them – they are wordless sound-poems.

For those who love, and have always loved, Keaggy’s work – this is a treat. Phil soars, using his entire arsenal, but keeps it on a slow, subtle burn. Of particular note are Keaggy’s excellent sensibilities as a bass player here, showing good taste and nimble fingers. Using both acoustic and electric, we get to hear Keaggy playing with his usual skill and passion, this time freed from being a totally solo performer. Johnson plays with a delicate beauty and an almost-invisible touch. As always, his keys, percussion, and vocal work become a comfortable place to be, and work a special magic with Keaggy’s articulate playing.

Frio Suite succeeds where many similar projects fail: it never fades away into the atmosphere but gets into the deep part of your soul. Deep calls unto deep.
Frio Suite is calling.

Tagged as: Frio Suite, Jeff Johnson, Phil Keaggy

↓ 3 comments

#1 Aaron on November 11th, 2009 at 3:58 pm

ooooh yes!

#2 Jim Bob on November 12th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

I completely agree with the review and the rating. There is a depth to the music that defies easy classification. I think the word that best captures it for me is: subtle.

#3 Ann Jack on November 13th, 2009 at 1:18 am

You should see the place that inspired the music. Sacred places. Jeff and Phil captured the canyon beautifully. The canyon jays, the springs bubbling up from the aquifer and the blue hole, which is deep, blue and cold even in the hottest Texas summer. It is carved out of the canyon walls over millions of years, 30 feet deep. As you can tell, I love the place. Jeff and Phil’s work is a worthy tribute.

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