Keller Williams

Keller Williams has built his reputation as a one-man band, but also as an equally prolific and eclectic recording artist. So, it's no surprise that he would want to stand his self-defined image on its ear with this long-in-the making collection of collaborations with other performers. No less than 31 other singers and musicians join him on one or more of the 16 tracks on the 73-minute CD. The biggest name, particularly for an artist known for his jam band associations, is former Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Bob Weir, who joins Williams on "Cadillac," the two exchanging acoustic guitar riffs and singing Williams' typically quirky lyrics. Then there is Béla Fleck, who adds his banjo to the progressive bluegrass of "People Watchin'." Although perhaps fashioned with the guest stars in mind, those songs are characteristic of Williams' most frequent style, as is "Sing for My Dinner," on which he's joined by the members of the String Cheese Incident, longtime friends of his. Other guests inspire different musical explorations. Jeff Covert contributes drums and lead guitar to the first track, "Play This," which sounds like a mash-up of hardcore punk rock à la Black Flag and the funk of Red Hot Chili Peppers. The funk continues with the second track, "Celebrate Your Youth," featuring the band ModeReko, which could be mistaken for a lost song by Dave Matthews Band. The appearance of Michael Franti on "Ninja of Love" inspires a sort of Japanese reggae number, and Sanjay Mishra and Samir Chatterjee take the music to India for the instrumental "Lil' Sexy Blues." Second-generation San Francisco rock guitarist Steve Kimock, with Williams on bass and John Molo on drums, gives "Twinkle" a seven-plus-minute instrumental, the feel of one of the Dead's "Space" improvisations, but Williams expects jazz guitarist John Scofield to adapt to his own style for "Got No Feather," and Scofield obliges. No matter who's accommodating whom, however, this is always Keller Williams music, with the involved guitar playing and near-novelty lyrics that implies. But for once, that music is being played by other people in addition to Williams himself. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide