A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandt
His studio albums were tricky affairs generally cursed with overproduction, but Townes Van Zandt's solo live recordings (and his influential songwriting) have made him a Texas music legend.A Gentle Evening with Townes Van Zandtcaptures the enigmatic performer alone at a 1969 Carnegie Hall concert, sounding a little tentative but still cracking the occasional joke. His set list consists of material from his first two albums, including classics "Tecumseh Valley," "Like a Summer's Thursday," and "She Came and She Touched Me." "Talking KKK Blues," heard here for the first time on record, bears a striking resemblance to the songwriter's "Fraternity Blues" and shows Van Zandt's biting wit. Since the definitive Townes Van Zandt concert document,Live at the Old Quarter, remains out of print, this single CD will serve the late Texan's legion of fans well. Aptly titled, it's a subdued affair, but it's still essential for anyone who wants to hear the performer in his youthful prime.--Jason Verlinde