Chris Webster’s voice is uniquely compelling, Nina Gerber’s work on guitar is breathtakingly beautiful and powerful; together they are magic.

Webster (Mumbo Gumbo) and Gerber (Kate Wolf, Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women) will bring their blend of original tunes and tasteful covers — including soulful ballads, jazzy tunes and gorgeous folk — to The Palms Playhouse on Friday, April 17.

Webster is a special singer: She can rock, she has soul and, most of all, she can find the smallest hints of emotion in any song and make it reverberate in listeners’ souls for a mighty long time.

In addition to her vocal prowess, Webster has grown into a masterful songwriter, whose lyrics take on love, lost love and the general vicissitudes of life range from poignant to funny, from introspective to exhilarating.

Stylistically, she deftly covers a wide spectrum, including country, pop balladry, jazz, folk and blues, bringing sensitivity, strength and an emotional breadth that few singers can match to each selection.

Gerber is a prodigiously talented guitarist with a tasteful touch for accompaniments as well as solo work. She first rose to prominence as the longtime accompanist for beloved folk musician Kate Wolf, touring with Wolf and playing on her landmark recordings in the 1970s and 1980s.

Since then, Gerber has remained a highly sought-after accompanist and has performed and recorded with Dave Alvin, Eliza Gilkyson, Ferron, Steve Seskin, Audrey Auld and Karla Bonoff.

Last year, 25 years after first meeting at “the old Palms” in Davis, Webster and Gerber released their first CD as a duo. “Apple Blossom Lane” captures the interplay between Webster’s multi-hued vocals and Gerber’s deftly resonant guitar work.

From the sassy Webster original “Fizz” to the warm instrumental treatment of John Lennon’s “Imagine” to a wistfully hopeful medley of “Over The Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World,” “Apple Blossom Lane” captures the rich musical interplay between Webster and Gerber that audiences enjoy in their live shows.

The duo’s show Friday at The Palms Playhouse, 13 Main St. in downtown Winters, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available at Armadillo Music in Davis, Davids’ Broken Note in Woodland, Pacific Ace Hardware in Winters and at the door if not sold out.

For more information, visit palmsplayhouse.com, chriswebstermusic.com and ninagerber.com.

Chris Webster and Nina GerberW

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