Legendary guitarist, singer/songwriter and GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Phil Keaggy will kick off “The Master and The Musician: 30 Years Later” Tour tonight, February 8th, at Landmark Baptist Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hitting 19 cities this spring, the tour celebrates the 30th anniversary of the release of Keaggy’s 1978 acclaimed instrumental album, The Master and The Musician. Keaggy will be joined on the tour by drummer John Sferra (Glass Harp), guitarist Ric Hordinski (Over The Rhine), multi-instrumentalist Tom Shinness, flutist Melissa Lautenbach, pianist Bryan J. Lautenbach and bassist Joel Jimenez.

Pictured (L-R): John Sferra, Tom Shinness, Joel Jimenez, Phil Keaggy, Melissa Lautenbach, Bryan Lautenbach and Ric Hordinski

Unlike anything he has done before on tour, Keaggy will replicate live the intimacy of the studio from 30 years ago in this special concert experience. Every concert on the tour will be full of amazing musicianship, soulful storytelling and the usual humour and humanity of the night’s host. A two-part concert experience, the first set of each show will showcase some of Keaggy’s favourite vocal songs chosen from the span of his career and will also highlight the musicianship of each of the ensemble members. The second set will bring the classic The Master and The Musician album to life as each of the seven musicians will play multiple string, percussion and reed instruments to capture the sonic palette of the album. There will also be a special vocal song tribute to the life-changing work of Compassion International, with whom Keaggy has long been affiliated.

Released in 1978, The Master and The Musician is considered the best-selling and most influential album of Keaggy’s lengthy career, which spans nearly 40 years. The album is a fusion of English and Celtic folk, rock, jazz and neo-classical influences. Worshipful without lyrics, the album challenged late-1970’s preconceptions of what Christian music should sound like. The Master and The Musician would become the first in a long line of instrumental work for Keaggy, his most recent work being 2007’s The Song Within on Autumn Records.

One of the world’s and Christian music’s most beloved master musicians, Phil Keaggy has enjoyed immense success over the course of his career. Having first entered the music scene as the co-founder and guitarist for ‘70s power group Glass Harp, Keaggy has since released close to 50 albums and has made appearances on countless others. Widely recognized for his phenomenal guitar playing as well as his vocal and song-writing prowess, he has received numerous accolades and awards for his music, including seven Dove Awards and a GRAMMY® nomination. Keaggy was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2007, and he continues to sell out concerts all over the North America with his ever-changing style, ranging from rock ‘n’ roll to fully orchestrated instrumental compositions.

The tour will be visiting several U.S. cites close to the Canadian border. For more information on “The Master and The Musician: 30 Years Later” Tour, visit Keaggy’s website at www.philkeaggy.com. You can preview the album and Keaggy’s extensive body of work on his YMZ artist page.