Kelly Joe Phelps "Tight to the Jar"

[TheTorresProject]

Just discovered this guy a few years ago! He's been such a big influence on my playing.. please check our channel.. The Torres Project

[vatti902]

God i love this guy, what soul, what heart.

[guitarbenn58]

Absolutely brilliant, beautiful, calming, thoughtful. What other words can I think of to describe KJP and his music? As others have said, KJP takes you to a good place when you are listening to him. It's music made by KJP and other singer-songer types that have made listening to most anything on the radio totally disgusting by comparison. This stuff is real, from the heart and not made to make money but instead to speak from the soul.

[mikeodee]

The world is a good place when I'm listening to Kelly Joe.

[davidphilipsmusic]

Never ceases to inspire me

[wiggleflips]

Planning on seeing KJP (with Corinne West) this October in London. Can't wait. I've been a huge fan for a few years now but never managed to see him perform live.

[synesthesia67]

KJP is a baaad mama jama....

[atreideslegend]

I always told myself I wanted learn to play the guitar the way Tom Waits plays the piano. This man has beaten me to it :(

[im4out]

this is a breath of fresh air...........+++++

[Lowden025]

he makes me want to go write another song

[salgermann]

my favorite KJP lullaby. listen.

[KhalDrogo76]

KJP is an American legend; whether anyone knows it or not is irrelevant

[weisslinger]

This guy is fascinating.

[davidcarr90]

Is this standard tuning?

[spankythemud]

@davidcarr90 Double dropped D

[aladon1965]

@davidcarr90 Check this vid by him on tuning etc, v=hb_aljlX7_U&feature=related

[stephen25uk]

Thanks shango69 for posting these videos. More people need to hear this genius.

[xxbobjobsxx]

I remember seeing him in Great Falls MT in 98 or 99 one of the most excellent shows i have ever seen.

[KhalDrogo76]

american legend..

[weaseltronn]

brilliant, just brilliant, pretty sums up everything missing from music today, skill, talent and passion - this is one of the most beautiful songs ive ever listened to, a shame hes not more well known

[Krollover]

Insane...

[davidphilipsmusic]

Incerdible!! And then the next video that is suggested is Andy McKee with his 32 million views!! Man, no offense to Andy, but Phelps is working on many many more levels... maybe that's why so many people prefer to listen to McKee, I mean, who wants to actually feel and think nowdays right?

[tomvband]

Perfect.

[UKCelticCowgirl]

Takes my breath away, what a talent.

[mickeypopa]

My God...this was as beautiful as it gets.

This is the first song I heard from Kelly Joe Phelps, and I'm an instant fan.

I now know 1 more extraordinary guitar player to listen to.

And as someone said bellow in comments "it's a crime that Kelly Joe isn't a better known musician"...well, at least 1 more now knows about him, and the number can only go up, as I'm sure it will. ;)

So much emotion put into strings, that can't go by unnoticed.

[pocksgroove]

heaven was'nt so far during those 6 minutes.

[CelticSong]

Beautiful my friend, beautiful! :)

[JosephKingOfKids]

what type of hat is that? dont think i dont love the music kjp is one of my favs!

[ChillingOutOnTheHill]

Caught up with KJP at the Guitar Festival in Ards, Northern Ireland, end of September. Awesome gig. If you are reading this Kelly Joe, great to share a beer with you buddy. Your mates were a laugh. Hope you enjoyed your birthday. Good luck.

- Paul (BluesHunter)

[johnmacward]

I missed him in Whelan's, Dublin. Twas gutted.

[thame2010]

It's a crime that KJP isn't a better known musician, he creates such a beautiful ambience in every song he plays.

Thanks for sharing!

[starrchild99]

This fella is a master, he has such a slick & soulful sound.

[h2u2b]

mmm, hum

[SamSimonBlues]

pure magic - this is so unbelievably good

[stovepipeJones]

I got to see him live at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard Washington quite a number of years ago. His guitar skills just blue me away! What an awesome setting to see such talent up close. Truly one of the blues greats of our time!

[thalamusproject]

...thank you very much for posting this beautiful piece....

[aftermiles]

wow!

[StrOcc]

just saw Kelly Joe tonight in Bellingham (fulfilling the dream for myself and two friends). so good. he's funny because with his sole focus the music, he seems awkward when it comes to talking. he did so much improv in his tunes... he must not have even played 10 songs and it still filled up the night completely.

[markp222]

would like to see him perform together with Tom Waits, their voices would sound great together

[Kuinivia12]

soulful!!!!

[scrunt22]

i remember seeing him, 97 or so, in a pub with about 10 people in vancouver. he talked a lot of mayo sandwiches. apart from his failed banter (!) his music was amazing, captivating, sooo luscious!

[phisolophe]

Seen him live a few times, he is just amazing...shine eyed mr zen is his best for me and that show was just like being in heaven...Wonder where all the videos have gone...darn copyrights...

[letspaintthetown]

Wow what a great song and performance. I can't believe this guy is from right here in Washington.

[magnusebrelius]

Querido Kelly Joe, eres de los tíos más dotados para la música que he tenido el placer de escuchar. Qué buenos momentos me has hecho pasar, has regalado pura poesía para mis oídos con Tommy o River ratt entre otras joyas. Come to Spain and play your unsurpassable music here. We can enjoy a spanish dinner with the goodest wine but let me hear your music in a little room as friends. A true dream...

[stevejohnmusic]

This is absolutely amazing - should have a lot more views!!!

[Matty73]

one of the best live performances i ever saw was a 300 seater gig of this guy. I barely breathed for a couple hours let alone moved.

[o1wen2]

Am convinced Kelly is the best musician I've ever seen (and can play myself and have seen a lot of quality guitar players).

He changed a string mid-song (including a re-tune) when I saw him. Though I'll never play like this it makes me happy that somebody has.

[menno32]

He makes me sick.

and that's positive, he's amazing.

[222dannyc]

Amazing contrast between vocals and guitar! Would love to see him live!!

[kaguvi777]

Kelly is one of the best! thanx for the video!

Peace

[sidefx996]

Thanks for posting Kelly Joe. Can never keep the smile off my face when I listen to him, he's so darn talented. Come back to Florida please!!!

[atkinsroy]

I saw him couple of years ago in the Bangalow A&I Hall, North Coast NSW. Initially I was disappointed there was no slide - but soon forgave him! Cracking guitarist.

[ilonarmn]

Really like your song!

Check out The Martin Harley Band.

[spankythemud]

That's funny Kelly told me himself about a month ago at a show here in Quebec that it was double dropped D. It works for me, but if your tuning works then great.

[rupertwilliam]

I stand corrected! Just watching the video again it is certainly played with a double dropped D tuning- he played it on a radio show with a full open D tuning and i assumed that was how it was always played- silly me. Thanks and if you see Kelly Joe again ask him to come back to Englans ASAP- we miss him!

[TurtleOWurtle]

I first saw KJP on Jools Holland in about 2000 and he changed the way I saw the guitar forever. Kelly Joe I love you man, you get inside a song like no other. I have seen you live 3 times and met you once, you make life more beautiful.

[kaguvi777]

KJP is da bomb

[adamatova]

Genius in every fiber of his be-ing. Thank you for posting KJP.

[ThePoetsNJ]

Does anyone know what tuning is he playing?

[spankythemud]

This is double dropped D 1st and 6th string down to D. That's it

[rupertwilliam]

Sorry spankythemud, gotta correct you there, it's an open Dmajor tuning- DADF#AD (like for slide). Capo 4 puts it in the key of F#. The whole song works around the i, iv and v chords, with all the colour, passing notes and chord tones coming out of the major scale- beautifully played- thanks be to you Kelly Joe.