A local Dobro master brought a fifth set of strings to the Little Theater stage — and added a surprise bonus to an unforgettable afternoon of bluegrass, blues and folk picking.
The setting was Sunday afternoon’s concert by guitarist David Bromberg’s quartet. At least it was billed as a concert by Bromberg’s quartet.
Not long into the Bromberg’s set, he announced that he was making it a quintet for the day — by bringing onstage New Haven’s own Stacy Phillips.
Phillips is a Grammy-winning virtuoso on the Dobro, the steel guitar played horizontally with lots of slides and twangs. He lives in New Haven, where he performs regularly on his own and with groups like the Afro-Semitic Experience (seen on the Green during last month’s Arts & Ideas fest.)
David Bromberg retired from public performance in the 1980s after a career as both a sideman on 150 folk and rock records as well as a major-label recording artist and headliner himself. He has tiptoed back to performing his blues, folk and bluegrass repertoire, which he brought to New Haven Sunday to Lincoln Street’s intimate Little Theater. (Click here for an interview with him.)
Click on the play arrow at the top of the story to hear highlights not just of Phillips’ playing, but of other selections from the concert.
Bromberg clearly took delight in Phillips’ solos. Grins flashed across the headliner’s face whenever Phillips dipped and ten flew up the neck with an unpredictable riff. Bromberg giggled at the hottest licks. “Play it again!” he repeatedly shouted, egging Phillips on to as many as four verses per solo.
“Connecticut has at least one good musician,” Bromberg quipped when he invited Phillips onto the stage.