Minneapolis, February 12, 2015—Masters of a little-known American
musical tradition, the Campbell Brothers have helped create a unique steel
guitar–driven sound called sacred steel: African American gospel with
electric steel guitars and soaring vocals. February 2015 is the 50th
anniversary of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, a seminal recording as
well as a declaration that Coltrane’s expansive musical innovations had
become intertwined with his religious devotion. To mark the occasion, the
Campbell Brothers revisit the work on their signature slide guitars, with
particular attention to the album’s transcendent spiritual message on
Thursday, February 26, at 8 pm in the William and Nadine McGuire
Theater.
The virtuosic group features Chuck Campbell, a National Heritage Fellow
and “the Jimi Hendrix and Django Reinhardt of the steel guitar” (Real
Blues), and his brothers Darick and Phil, along with a rhythm section. The
concert opens with gospel and spiritual works from the Campbell
Brothers’ repertoire, followed by A Sacred Steel Love Supreme,
commissioned by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts & Duke
Performances, Duke University, Durham. Copresented with the Cedar.
About The Campbell Brothers
“There’s a thinking side to what we do…
How am I treating my fellow man?
How am I living?
Am I doing the right things in life?”
–Darick Campbell
The Campbell Brothers present Sacred Steel: African-American gospel
music with electric steel guitar and vocal. This tradition is just now
emerging from the House of God Keith Dominion Church, where for over
sixty years it has been an integral part of worship and a vital, if little known,
American tradition. As the music moves from sanctuary to concert hall —
including the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Academy of
Music and Symphony Space — secular audiences are now able to
appreciate a performance both devoted and rocking.
“The Campbell Brothers play music that until recently was heard only in
gospel churches, with pedal steel guitar lines swooping skyward like a
gospel shouter; two Campbell brothers trade off leads, carrying the songs
to peak after peak.”( Jon Pareles, The New York Times)
Fifty years ago John Coltrane composed and recorded his most spiritual
composition. Coltrane, whose father was a minister, included a prayer in
the liner notes, and phrased his peroration to those words.
The Campbell Brothers, whose father is a bishop, grew up in churches
where steel guitars replaced organs, a style known as sacred steel. Every
Sunday they played for church services, where they were admonished to
“play the word.”
This sacred steel gospel tradition has proved fertile ground for A Love
Supreme. The Campbell Brothers approach this major work with a deep
connection to the spiritual journey the composer undertook. At its Lincoln
Center premiere, the piece was greeted by shouts of joy and a wild
standing ovation.
Pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell and his lap steel-playing brother
Darick are two of the finest in this tradition. Rounding out the band, which
has been playing together for nearly two decades, is a high-energy rhythm
section featuring brother Phil Campbell on electric guitar, his son Carlton
on drums, Daric Bennett on bass, and Denise Brown on vocals.
The Campbell Brothers present a compelling, rich variety of material from
the African-American Holiness-Pentecostal repertoire with a new twist: the
growling, wailing, shouting, singing and swinging voice of the steel guitar,
played as you have never heard it played before.
Chuck Campbell began playing the lap steel guitar at the age of 12. At the
age of 17 he became one of the first players to utilize the Pedal Steel guitar
in the House of God Church, Keith Dominion. Chuck is renowned for his
innovative approach to the instrument both technically and musically. His
use of effects such as distortion, and wah pedal and his picking techniques
enable him to emulate the human voice in an uncanny fashion, which
evokes images of gospel moaning and field singing. Early in his career
Chuck became recognized for becoming the first steel player to be
accomplished in the Sacred Steel styles of Calvin Cooke, Ted Beard and
Henry Nelson when most steel players could only play in one! Chuck’s
inventive blending of those methods along with his ground breaking use of
complex chords and fast picking formed the musical style which is the most
emulated among young Sacred Steel players today. More of Chuck’s
technical prowess is displayed in his role as producer and primary engineer
on the new Campbell Brothers’ discs, Sacred Steel on Tour and Sacred
Steel for the Holidays.
Darick Campbell first made his mark in music as a drummer. For several
years Darick was the premier drummer of the General Assembly, the
National Convocation of the House Of God Church in Nashville,
Tennessee. His choice of the Lap Steel is a reflection of the influences he
has blended to become the most emotional player of The Campbell
Brothers musical tour d’ force. His renditions of End of My Journey have
caused audiences throughout the world to weep in heartfelt response to his
playing. However it is argued that his most definitive work was his solo
work on The Storm is Passing Over. Darick brings the added dimension of
being the vocal leader on the Campbell Brothers’ What’s His Name? In
marked contrast to the pin drop rapture of audiences to End of My Journey,
the raucous spontaneity of What’s His Name? has left Campbell Brothers’
audiences everywhere dancing on a spiritual high.
Phillip Campbell began life as a drummer but quickly proceeded to the
instrument which is arguably his most accomplished, the bass guitar. It was
on the bass that Phil began to explore the many genres which form his
eclectic musical personality. As his self-taught explorations took him into
bass chord harmonics and figures, Phil began to look at the other
instruments which lent themselves to chordal progressions which would
express his melodic tastes and further compliment the Sacred Steel
playing of his brothers. The guitar became the weapon of choice because
of its ability to drive the music. Phil now combines the rhythmic attributes of
the guitar with MIDI guitar synthesis to bring a unique stylistic blend, which
perfectly complements the Steels across all genres into which they
venture. Phil’s work as a songwriter has also been recognized. His song,
Breakthrough, has been published in Germany for an upcoming Gospel
compilation CD.
Drummer Carl Campbell is the heartbeat of the Campbell Brothers. Carl
and dad, Phil, form the rhythmic foundation upon which The Campbell
Brothers soulful Gospel is built. Formally trained in Jazz and Band
Percussion, Carlton has been able to assimilate the classic rudiments of
drumming with his improvisational upbringing in Church to formulate a style
which always finds itself in the groove. Carlton continues to stretch his
boundaries by studying the Sacred Steel tradition on his own double neck
Fender String Master as he pursues his dream of being a “Campbell
Brother”.
At the age of 10 years old, Daric Bennett picked up his first bass. As a
child growing up, Daric always had an interest in music. Daric’s father, who
is an accomplished Steel guitar player, was the one to encourage him to
play the bass guitar. Being surrounded by musicians in his family and also
growing up in the church, Daric has a firm foundation and background in
music. He began to teach himself in his beginner years then quickly
advanced in his playing when he started studying music theory in junior
high. He plays all sorts of genres but has studied mostly jazz and classical
throughout his high school and college years. Daric now tours regularly
with the Campbell Brothers and other various groups. He has played on
numerous albums and countless live performances that mark his
professional career.
Even though Denise Brown is a cousin of the Campbell Brothers there
isn’t any nepotism at work here. Silky smooth is the most commonly used
description of this outstanding vocalist’s singing. Her renditions of Don’t Let
the Devil Ride have garnered ovations across the United States, Europe
and Africa. However her favorite song, The Storm Is Passing Over, has become an audience favorite as well. As she continues to develop her style and push her artistic boundaries, look for Denise’s work to become even more compelling than it is today.
Tickets to the Campbell Brothers are: $25 ($22 Walker members) and are
available at walkerart.org/tickets or by calling 612.375.7600
About the Cedar
The Cedar Cultural Center is a highly eclectic music venue located in
Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Over its 26 year history, the
Cedar has become one of the premiere US venues for world music by
fulfilling its (501c3 nonprofit) mission of promoting intercultural appreciation
and understanding though the presentation of global music and dance.
Acknowledgments
The Walker Art Center’s performing arts programs are made possible by
generous support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation through the
Doris Duke Performing Arts Fund, the William and Nadine McGuire
Commissioning Fund, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the National
Endowment for the Arts.
Producers’ Council
Performing Arts programs and commissions at the Walker are generously
supported by members of the Producers’ Council: Russell Cowles; Nor Hall
and Roger Hale; King’s Fountain/Barbara Watson Pillsbury and Henry
Pillsbury; Emily Maltz; Dr. William W. and Nadine M. McGuire; Leni and
David Moore, Jr.; Josine Peters; Mike and Elizabeth Sweeney; and
Frances and Frank Wilkinson.