Jim Curry brings a Rocky Mountain high to the High Plains

This past Thursday, despite the chill of an early October evening, 164 souls braved the cold to be warmed to the music of John Denver. Jim Curry and his band presented their show, Take Me Home: The Music of John Denver, in the first concert of the Phillips County Arts Council 2019-2020 concert season.

Along with the stellar, spot-on vocals and acoustic guitar by Curry, he was joined by Anne Curry (Curry’s wife) on guitar, mandolin and harmony vocals; Diane Ireland on flute, penny whistle and Native American drone flute; and Tom Williams on bass, harmony vocals and flugelhorn. Each song had an accompanying video that was projected on the wall behind the band adding beautiful images to match the timeless music of Denver.

Opening the show with the Colorado-associated classic “Rocky Mountain High,” with images of majestic mountains and soaring eagles, the audience was drawn into the world of Denver’s inspirational music. “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” written by Denver but usually associated with Peter, Paul and Mary’s mega-hit version, reminded the audience of Denver’s success as a songwriter years before his rise to super stardom as a singer.

From the playful “Grandma’s Feather Bed,” the lovely “Annie’s Song” and the poignant “Rhymes & Reasons,” Curry’s powerful voice carried the message of Denver’s songs with strength and emotion. Anne Curry’s accompaniments on mandolin and guitar, Ireland’s soaring flute counterpoints, Williams’ solid tonal foundations on the bass and harmony vocals by all provided the perfect support for Curry.

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