2010

Words: David Schultz

Focusing primarily on Tibet, the Rubin Museum hosts a wide selection of art from the Himalayas region. It’s not a venue typically associated with music much less one to feature one of the country’s preeminent, though unheralded, guitarists. Then again, as many who have seen Willy Porter would attest, a museum might be the proper locale for his prodigious skills.

The Wisconsin-based guitar wizard’s latest New York City appearance came as part of Naked Soul, the Rubin’s unique twist on the singer-songwriter concert series. In a room with perfect acoustics, Naked Soul strips away everything unnecessary from the performance: no amplification is needed and no electricity is used; every note strummed, beat and sung is heard unfiltered. The elimination of any type of sound system in museum quality environs fosters a warmth and intimacy unparalleled by the majority of basement stages and coffeehouses.

The environs couldn’t have played more to Porter’s strengths as a performer. He possesses the type of talent must be seen in order to be truly understood. It’s one thing to hear Porter play, quite another to see how he coaxes the sounds out of his guitar. His fingers glide across the fretboard with a natural ease that seems otherworldly, as if he’s channeling a higher musical force. Often it’s difficult to believe that many of the sounds coming from his guitar are actually being played with his fingers.

READ ON for more from David on Willy Porter…

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