Short Reviews [Jeff Aug - 2024 - "Kiss of the Liquid Moon"]

After blasting around the scene with his instrumental rock outfit Ape Shifter, here we find Jeff as I first came across him some years back, as a solo acoustic guitarist (with some guests on some tracks to assist in filling out the sound). As well as touring as support for the likes of Allan Holdsworth, Soft Machine, Scott Henderson, Stu Hamm, Greg Howe, Alex Skolnick, Carl Verheyen, Johnny A. and Albert Lee, he has been touring and recording with Anne Clark for the last 20+ years, and famously set the world record for the “most concerts performed in different countries in 24 hours” twice (2009, 2012). The album is a cross section of his solo acoustic instrumental fingerstyle guitar playing from the last few years, and while some have been played in concert they have not been recorded and not played like this, while some of these songs will never be played again. There are some real highlights on here, with “Matilda’s Lullaby” a case in point. The piano and cello combine with the acoustic to take us on a journey which is pure Anthony Phillips and is something I can happily play on repeat in the evening as it really sets the mood. There is a delicacy and thoughtfulness in this piece while on others there is levity and grace yet at all times it is music that demands close attention as when it is as good as this it should never be allowed to fall into the background. Given it has been eight years since Jeff last released a solo album, and there have been three from Ape Shifter in the intervening period, I did not think we would ever get another album from him in this style, but I am so very glad indeed that we have this one as it is a beautiful delight from beginning to end.