After a long hiatus between albums, father-and-son acoustic guitar duo, Sundad, returns with Way Station One, a truly exceptional collection of nine original tracks recorded at Will Ackerman’s Imaginary Road Studio in Vermont. In addition to John Eurell Sr. and John Eurell Jr. on guitars, the album features guest artists that include Michael Manring and Kendall Buchanan on bass, Premik Russell Tubbs (sax and flute), Jeff Haynes (percussion), Abe Speller and Elijah Duncan on drums, Tom Eaton (bass, Rhodes, keyboards, piano, percussion, lap steel, electric guitar, tambourine and darbuk); Eaton also produced, mixed and mastered the album, and recorded several of the tracks. John Sr. and John Jr. have both played with bands in a variety of genres and styles, bringing an eclectic approach to their own original music. This is their third album, following their Grammy-nominated debut, Journey To Eternity (2005) and The Journey Continues (2008), which I also reviewed.

Way Station One begins with “Gunslinger,” a catchy and rhythmic piece with a gentle, mysterious theme - perhaps inspired by an outlaw with a big heart! It’s a great opening! “Earthling Lies” also has a mysterious feeling, but is quite a bit darker. Michael Manring’s bass guitar contrasts beautifully with the acoustic guitars, while the percussion keeps the piece moving forward. “Voyage 2” moves to a dreamy smooth jazz groove that features Premik Russell Tubbs’ sultry sax, along with percussion, keyboards, bass and the guitars. I really like this one! “Type A” has a driving percussion and bass rhythm while the guitars are quite laid-back - a study in contrasts that really works! “Grandfather Clock” features one of the guitars moving very quickly (in seconds?), the second guitar at a moderate tempo (minutes?) and the bass moving very slowly (hours?). Bright and rhythmic, it’s a fun and always-interesting piece! I love “Vader,”with its dreamy guitar, driving rhythms, ethereal keyboards and soulful bass. Almost ambient, the piece seems to float gracefully like a very pleasant dream. The title track feels both poignant and bittersweet and features the two guitars, bass, percussion and keyboards - beautifully done! “The Seventh Sign” includes flute, percussion, bass and the guitars in a piece that feels darkly foreboding as well as mysterious - perhaps reaching into the unknown. “Vader Jam” is a different version of “Vader,” and this time there is more electric guitar and keyboard for a somewhat “bigger” sound. It’s a great closing to a great album!

Way Station One is the kind of album that can slip quietly into the background, but do yourself a favor and let the beauty as well as the “soul” of the music transport you to a place of peace and serenity. It’s a musical gift in these challenging times! The album will be released on April 24, 2026 and will be available to download and stream from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as on many streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. Don’t miss it!