SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAY

Following in the great brother duet tradition of the Blue Sky Boys and the Louvin brothers, the Keel brothers have developed a unique sound which is all their own. Rooted in tradition and forward in innovation the Keels have compiled two fantastic CDs abounding with masterful flatpicking and beguiling vocals. As they weave their way through contemporary and traditional tunes, the music never looses its sense of continuity. Always mindful of where the music came from, and with a strong desire to keep it moving forward, the Keel brothers have come together to make a new music for us all.

Mary Monseur, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.  July 2007

BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED, Aug 2007

Attention guitar pickers! The line forms to the right for the Keel Brothers' latest CD, "Volume 2," a smooth blend of bluegrass-style guitar and gritty, Texas-style vocals. Clearly, the Keel Brothers are not your traditional bluegrass band, but with two guitars (Larry and Gary Keel) and bass (Jenny Keel on 14 tracks, Patty Embrey on two), they deliver some great music. In fact, the sound is so full and rich that you could be several tracks into the album before realizing the other bluegrass instruments are missing. The Keel Brothers create such a powerful guitar atmosphere that the listener is willingly swept away.

The material here has been chosen for its instrumental and vocal appropriateness, and with great success. For instrumentals, you can't beat traditional tunes like "Cripple Creek," "Remington's Ride," or "Liberty." Without the banjo, they're perfect for guitar fans or even aspiring students looking for clean examples of their lessons. Then there's an instrumental version of "Kentucky Waltz," probably Monroe's loveliest tune and one heard far too seldom. You might even think you're hearing a touch of mandolin, but nope, it's a guitar. Vocal chestnuts include "Little Birdie," "Don't Go Out Tonight," and "Two Little Boys," among others. They've also covered songs from Gordon Lightfoot ("Don Quixote") and Tom T. Hall ("Wash My Face"), giving an otherwise straight bluegrass lineup just a bit of variety and outside influence.

Although they're from the Blue Ridge Mountain area, vocally the Keel Brothers sound more like Texas than Virginia. Their harmonies have a rougher, low-down blended texture but are given a softening touch of high-end with the occasional inclusion of Jenny Keel's third part. It's a warm and inviting sound that combines the best of bluegrass guitar with an unexpected and welcoming vocal approach, making this a delightfully inviting album.

Quote from DEL MCCOURY

“Hank Garland, Tony Rice, and Larry Keel”