Single Review—On The Road To Windham

Honoring Acoustic Legends: West & Gregoli’s ‘On The Road To Windham’

In their latest collaboration on this single, Jim Kimo West and David Vito Gregoli beautifully exploit the medium of music to pay homage to the iconic sounds that have helped shape the contemporary acoustic music. “On The Road To Windham,” is a heart touching and masterful song that draws immensely from the influences of legends including Alex de Grassi, Mike Marshall, Michael Manring, and Will Ackerman. It is not an overstatement that any listener will instantly fall in love with these mesmerizing melodies and the harmonious track born from them.

As the song opens, gentle strains of tunes from fingerstyle acoustic guitars create a meditative and serene mood. As the song moves on, the Grammy-winner Jim Kimo West, renowned as one of the world’s top Hawaiian slack key guitarists, gives his best on his instrument alongside award-winning multi-instrumentalist and world-renowned producer David Vito Gregoli. Their heart-touching sound phrases contain a befitting tribute to the legendary label Windham Hill Records. Notably, this label represents some of the best creations in acoustic music.

West and Gregoli’s music in this piece is technically impressive and resonates with the audience’s emotions. It is evident that they have chosen every note carefully and executed it meticulously. The enthralling interplay between the charango and Irish bouzouki bestows a delightful layer of complexity to the composition and successfully weave South American and Celtic musical traditions into a harmonic blend, which transcends time and feels fresh.

The fretless bass bestows a lavish foundation for the song. Their charmingly flowing harmonies complement the crisp tunes produced by the acoustic instruments. What result from this amalgamation are an amazing depth and a pulsating music that syncs with our heart beat. The mandolin helps add a light, but whimsical touch that replicates the images of long winding roads and vast landscapes.

Take Away

“On The Road To Windham” is a masterly creation that you will wish to call an evocative and meditative piece, a characteristic quality that helped define the genre of acoustic music. Yet, the composition has successfully retained its originality; thanks to the profound influences the tunes bear on them and the unique blending of a handful of interesting instruments that helps achieve the desired effect. This track is a testimony that shows how the musical prowess of this celebrated duo has impacted the contemporary acoustic music.