Rhett Tyler

West Strand Grill
50 Abeel Street
Kingston, NY
(914) 340-4272

Saturday, January 2
9 p.m.

Qualified, Edified, Sanctified

When we sent Chronogram's top bon vivant and scenester Todd Paul to review bluesman Rhett Tyler, little did we know that our music editor was going to return transformed by the "King of the 12-string." Quoth Señor Paul: "To my surprise, this ex-Texan turned out to qualified, edified and sanctified. Not only did he charm the house, he played his ass off." You wouldn't know it listening to the Hendrixesque feel of Tyler's electric trio, Early Warning (who'll be appearing with him at the West Strand Grill), but Tyler studied at both Julliard and Berklee; in fact, he was the first guitar student at Julliard in 1968. Which gives you a sense of how long Tyler has been working on his chops and the accumulated passion he brings to his music.