Tripliciti: [l-r] Andy McKee; Calum Graham; Trevor Gordon Hall [pic: Pat Johnson]
Tripliciti is a collaboration made in heaven. Having worked their individual ways around the world for the past ten years and more, virtuoso fingerstyle guitarists Andy McKee, Calum Graham and Trevor Gordon Hall have decided that it's time to merge their talents in a collective venture - a venture that will integrate the disparate styles of Americana, jazz, flamenco, new age and rock into something new and very exciting. That venture has been given the name: Tripliciti.
Tripliciti will release their eponymous album on 4th April - we'll be conducting a full review here... - and, ahead of the album, the trio are in the process of releasing a string of singles to whet the appetites of their waiting public. Tracks Hunter's Moon and The Blue Hour have already seen light of day and, now, along comes taster no.3, In Lak Ech (the title is a Mayan greeting that means, literally, You are my other me. It's a statement of unity.)
Each member of Tripliciti is an admired performer in his own right. Andy McKee is a world-renowned guitarist whose recent EP, Symbol, a collection of Andy's interpretations of work by artists as diverse as Prince, Preston Reed, Billy McLaughlin and Michael Hedges received rave reviews from around the world. Furthermore, his song, Drifting, was one of the first YouTube videos to go viral; to date, it's had around 60 million views.
Award-winning Canadian guitarist Calum Graham has nine solo albums to his name - most recently his 2023 10th Anniversary revisit of his 2013 debut, Phoenix Rising.
And, hailing from Philadelphia, Trevor Gordon Hall started to attract attention during the early 2000s. His signature fingerpicking style has drawn praise from the august likes of Steve Miller, Graham Nash and Steve Hackett, as well as attracting the attention of bandmate-to-be Andy McKee. Like his collaborators, TG has an impressive solo discography, the most recent entry of which is his 2021 offering, The Beautiful Chaos. TG also teaches guitar, via the online platforms JamPlay.com and TrueFire.com
In Lak Ech coverart
And, so - to the single itself. In Lak Ech wasn't at all what I was expecting, I have to say. In truth, I suppose that I don't really know what I was expecting, but the pastoral richness of the tune was a very welcome surprise. Rich harmonic sounds provide the blissful entry into a dreamy tune that allows each member of the trio a turn in the spotlight. TG takes first slot with a magical passage of deft slide guitar, whilst Andy and Calum interweave their rhythms. Calum is next, with a choppy acoustic guitar solo, with TG providing a few sparkling highlights on his built-in kalimbatar (yes - I had to look that up...). Finally, Andy steps forward for a breathtaking electric guitar solo. And, all the while, the pastoral mood of the tune is retained.
As a tune in its own right, In Lak Ech is rich, dazzling and thoroughly engaging. As an advert for the forthcoming album, it's certain to set the Pavlovian juices flowing. Roll over, Hank Marvin!
