John Stein’s Among Friends is a heartfelt archival release that captures the guitarist in an intimate, formative setting. Recorded in 1997 in Stein’s living room and office using borrowed equipment from Berklee College of Music, where he was a professor, the sessions feature cellist Chris White and vocalist Fay Whittaker, longtime collaborators from his early […]
John Stein’s Among Friends is a heartfelt archival release that captures the guitarist in an intimate, formative setting. Recorded in 1997 in Stein’s living room and office using borrowed equipment from Berklee College of Music, where he was a professor, the sessions feature cellist Chris White and vocalist Fay Whittaker, longtime collaborators from his early career. The album consists of four guitar-cello/vocal trio pieces, two guitar and cello duets, and four guitar and vocal duets, showcasing a warm, unvarnished interplay that highlights the trio’s camaraderie. The setlist here is primarily comprised of tunes of the Great American Songbook. Stein’s guitar work is lyrical and understated, providing a gentle foundation for White’s expressive cello lines and Whittaker’s emotive vocals.
