Andrew McKnight, "How High the Mountain" Mp3 Review 

Opening with a cappella, multi-part vocal harmonies, “How High the Mountain,” by Andrew McKnight, catches your ear from the start. Then, in flows the music, which McKnight calls, “quasi blues-grass.” A fine mandolin and fiddle solo grace your ears, backed by an effectively subtle band. Certainly, this song has quite a lot to offer the listener from a talented bunch of musicians.

From his Beyond Borders CD, McKnight’s, “How High the Mountain” is a must hear for any bluegrass fan or picker. The instrumentalism is top-notch, and the hook is catchy. McKnight sings, “How high is this mountain that I’ve fallen down? How far have I tumbled to be here? How long must I climb to see sweet sun again out of this valley of despair?” These lyrics are strong, and they only get better as the tune progresses.

No song of this genre is complete without a great guitar picking solo, and “How High the Mountain” does not disappoint. McKnight is quite the picker, demonstrating some nice, thickly toned riffs. Following his solo is a tastefully melodic mandolin solo by Danny Knicely, who also plays bass on the tune. As the song reaches its high point, the vocal harmonies (all performed by McKnight) pick up in their intensity, bringing the tune to an aurally pleasing climax. All the while, cajon and foot maraca player, N. Scott Robinson, keeps a nice tight beat. The end of the tune leaves the listener with another short fiddle solo, performed by the skillful Alexander Mitchell, and another McKnight guitar solo.

It should be noted that McKnight is not purely a bluegrass musician. He incorporates many influences into his music including folk, a little bit of jazz, and a whole lot of soul. No matter what style of music Andrew McKnight is creating, he does so with a fantastic voice and great guitar skills. He’s also gathered a wonderful line-up of musicians for the tune, “How High the Mountain,” from the Beyond Borders CD. It’s one of my favorites, and I suggest you check out this and much more of what Andrew McKnight has to offer. He’s got a lot of great music out there.

Artist Website: www.andrewmcknight.net

Reviewed By: ListenersGeneration.com