Quah --
Jorma Kaukonen's (guitar/vocal) solo debut effort -- was recorded and issued shortly after the dissolution of
Jefferson Airplane in 1974. In contrast to the sonic indulgences of
Grace Slick's Manhole or
Paul Kantner and
Jefferson Starship's Blows Against the Empire,
Kaukonen retreated back to his
folk-blues roots along with vocalist
Tom Hobson -- who contributes to "Blue Prelude" and "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine" -- to create this intricate acoustic masterwork. From the highly original artwork -- courtesy of
Kaukonen's then-wife Margareta -- to the stark and beautiful melodies within the grooves, Quah is unlike any other recording from the era. Much of the album's vibe is strikingly similar to the final contributions that
Kaukonen made to
Jefferson Airplane. The most obvious and direct correlation being "Third Week at the Chelsea," which maintains much of the same intimacy as the tracks "Genesis," "Flying Clouds," and "Song for the North Star." Likewise, his admiration for
folk,
blues, and
gospel -- which had first surfaced on the self-titled
Hot Tuna debut release -- informs the content of this disc on his cover of
Rev. Gary Davis' "I Am the Light of This World" as well as the haunting
traditional blues "Another Man Done Gone"and
Blind Boy Blake's understatedly ribald "Police Dog Blues."
Tom Hobson's inimitable vocal delivery stands apart from
Kaukonen's in a somewhat theatrical manner. His take on the noir torch song "Blue Prelude" could not be more dissimilar to the practically giddy "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine." Yet both are equally functional in the context of the rest of the album. In 1987
Relix magazine issued a very limited pressing of Quah on CD. Tragically, it was not re-pressed and remains near the top of want lists from enthusiasts eager to retire worn vinyl copies. This disc is a timeless and highly underrated statement from one of the world's premier guitarists. It is worthy -- if not quietly demanding -- of repeated listening. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
