Tommy Emmanuel - Accomplice Series, Vol. 1 (with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley) (EP) (2021) [Official Digital Download]

Tommy Emmanuel has joined forces with Rob Ickes (Dobro) & Trey Hensley (guitar) to record a digital EP called Accomplice Series Volume 1 with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley out on May 7. Creative sparks fly on this four song EP, which radiates good vibrations with white-hot picking. It was recorded at TuneSmith Studios in Nashville, TN.

Emmanuel has long been known for his free form guitar style, displaying a mastery of both the finger and flat picking genres. He first hit the music scene from his native Australia as a disciple of the great Chet Atkins, who later conferred on him the title, Certified Guitar Player, one of only five to be so named. Recent years have seen Tommy more involved in the bluegrass world, recording one of his original tunes with Michael Cleveland, Tall Fiddler, and appearing on Kristy Cox’s latest album. He has also been appearing live and virtually with Jerry Douglas.

A music video has been released for the album’s first single, a classic instrumental called Flatt Did It, recorded by Doc Watson and Chet Atkins in 1980. The melody is clearly based on the now standard guitar lick Lester Flatt played, generally known today as The Lester Flatt G-Run.

Tommy says the video was shot as the three of them were tracking this tune, and that the whole time in the studio had a loose, impromptu feel.

“The sessions were very spontaneous, and in fact, I suggested Flatt Did It and Copper Kettle as pieces on the day we recorded them. That’s how it came about. It was very spontaneous.”

Check out the video, where the contrasting guitar styles of Tommy and Trey play off of Rob’s silky reso work. It really looks like they were having a blast.

Ickes agreed, saying that fun was indeed the order of the day.

“I love to hear Tommy and Trey play together. There’s a great respect between the two of them. They are both so brilliant. It’s great to hear them feeding off each other. And this song is just the perfect vehicle for a Dobro, so I’m enjoying the whole thing!”

Other tunes on the EP include Razz-Ma-Tazz Polka and It’s Never Too Late.

In Their Words: “My feelings about the sessions are they were very spontaneous, and in fact, I suggested ‘Flatt Did It’ and ‘Copper Kettle’ as pieces on the day we recorded them. That’s how it came about. It was very spontaneous. ‘Flatt Did It’ is a tribute to Lester Flatt and some of his classic kind of licks. We had the film crew in there for the day and they just rolled the cameras. We actually just played and ignored them almost.” — Tommy Emmanuel

“Well, it’s always great to work with Tommy. He’s such a great artist, and such a great person. There are always a lot of sparks flying when we play together, and all three of us are into lots of different musical genres, so that’s always fun to explore different musical territories when we get together. This song comes from an album that Chet Atkins did with Doc Watson. I love to hear Tommy and Trey play together. There’s a great respect between the two of them. They are both so brilliant. It’s great to hear them feeding off each other. And this song is just the perfect vehicle for a Dobro, so I’m enjoying the whole thing!” — Rob Ickes

“Yeah, this one was Tommy’s idea, and it’s a tune from the Doc Watson and Chet Atkins duo record. Rob and I both have a bluegrass background, and this song was written with the great bluegrass icon Lester Flatt in mind. (Hence the title.) It really was a natural fit and recording it with Tommy was so much fun! Getting to pick with Tommy and Rob any time is always a blast! Working in the studio with Tommy was so much fun, which I think is evident throughout this EP. The great vibe in the studio that day is prominent in the recordings. It was really just the three of us hanging out and playing tunes…what could be more fun?” — Trey Hensley

Tracklist:
1. Copper Kettle (with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley) (03:27)
2. Raz-Ma-Taz Polka (with Trey Hensley) (01:49)
3. Flatt Did It (with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley) (04:10)
4. It's Never Too Late (with Rob Ickes) (04:08)


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