by Mark W.B. Allender

Phil Keaggy's first instrumental album is a groundbreaking piece of work for him as an artist, for the Christian music genre, and for instrumental guitar music in general. Full of emotional twists, meditative sounds, and world-influenced tonalities, The Master & the Musician stands as an oasis in an otherwise barren field of Christian instrumental music. Pieces like "Jungle Pleasures" and "Follow Me Up" are great works in their own right, Christian or otherwise. The excellent arrangement of "Amazing Grace" on the 1988 re-release features Keaggy's guitar sounding like bagpipes. An excellent work from an excellent musician.