Jonatha Brooke, 10 Cent Wings. Crisp and creative production and sweet, yearning vocals highlight 10 Cent Wings' mid--tempo folk--pop poems and ballads. Brooke's inquisitive, personal, and expressive songwriting on hook--heavy gems like "Last Innocent Year" and "Secrets and Lies" detail the progression she has made from band member (The Story) to solo artist. Brooke plays acoustic guitar throughout and adds electric guitar, xylopipes, and piano to a strong supporting cast. Tough--minded yet sensitive, this songstress--a kindred spirit to Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega--has delivered a debut solo record that gets better with each listen. (Refuge/MCA)
--Roger Len Smith
Slavek Hanzlik, Fall of My Dreams. On his third CD, Czech--born Hanzlik emerges as one of the great flatpicking stylists of his day. His exemplary technical skills and uncanny knack for writing melodies that sound as if they could only have originated as flatpicking guitar tunes set him apart. Backed by BŽla Fleck, Stuart Duncan, Tim O'Brien, and Jerry Douglas, Hanzlik takes his Eastern European roots and transplants them into the mountain soils of bluegrass country. (Sierra, PO Box 5853, Pasadena, CA 91117)
--David McCarty
Robben Ford, The Authorized Bootleg. One of the most revered electric guitarists in the world has released a live acoustic CD. The playing is superb, and the vibe is loose and playful. Ford rips through "Chevrolet" and "Tired of Talking" (from his recent Grammy--nominated Handful of Blues), and his solo work on "Lovin' Cup" and the jazzy, improvised "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" steal the show. (Blue Thumb, 555 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019)
--James Jensen
Roy Book Binder, Polk City Ramble. Roy Book Binder wears his roots on his sleeve, or at least strapped over his shoulder. The guitars he used on this album are a virtual history lesson. A 1935 National Style 3, a 1942 Gibson J--45, a 1936 Gibson Nick Lucas Special, and a 1941 Recording King, among other guitars, take turns showcasing Book Binder's smooth acoustic country blues. Polk City Ramble is an almost equal mix of Book Binder originals and artfully selected covers by the Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Blake, and others. This is porch--settin' music at its best. (Rounder)
--David Gold
The Best of Peter Finger and Florian Poser. In the early 1980s Finger and Poser put out two highly regarded albums of fingerstyle guitar and vibes music. The master tapes disappeared into a vault and were recently set free by Finger, who has acquired the right to release a CD containing the best of the two albums on his own label. The recording is filled with satisfying concoctions that mix jazz, Latin, and folk--tinged sounds into something original--a unified virtuosity that creates a compelling and convincing musical landscape. (Acoustic Music Resource, 1610 Crestview Ave., Seal Beach, CA 90740)
--Gary Joyner
Peter Mayer, Bountiful. On his third CD, this Minnesota singer--songwriter provides a well--needed antidote to the current proliferation of angst--ridden, generation X singers toting acoustic guitars and chips on their shoulders. Mayer's world is bright and hopeful, and the transcendent nature of his lyrics, which explore the mysteries of life, call to mind other spiritual explorers, such as Cat Stevens and Bruce Cockburn. Mayer's fluid, clean, and tremendously intriguing guitar playing are topped with his warm, rich vocals. This is music for the soul. (Silent Planet, 6300--138 Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh, NC 27612)
--Steve Givens
Robin and Barry Dransfield, Up to Now. The Dransfield brothers were the bad boys of the early--'70s British folk--rock upheaval. This wonderful, epic two--CD compilation covers the Dransfields' recording and performing careers singly and together from 1970 to 1994. What's striking, besides the sometimes bluesy, sometimes bluegrassy vocal harmonies, is the depth and breadth of repertoire that many current Celtic/Brit folk enthusiasts may have missed entirely. By turns sweet and smoldering, the music of guitarist Robin and fiddler Barry is infused with a passion and drive that demands attention. (Free Reed, The Cedars, Field Lane, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1DD, England)
--Danny Carnahan
The Charlie Byrd Trio, Au Courant. Veteran nylon--string guitar virtuoso Charlie Byrd joins brother Joe Byrd on upright bass and Chuck Redd on vibes for 14 swinging yet laid--back interpretations of jazz standards by folks like Rodgers and Hart, Alan Jay Lerner, W.C. Handy, and Henry Mancini. The unique instrumentation is a refreshing treat and was evidently inspiring for the musicians, who really groove. (Concord Jazz, PO Box 845, Concord, CA 94522)
--Dale Miller
Tim Ryan, Tried, True, and Tested. This debut album showcases the talents of contemporary cowboy songwriter Tim Ryan, who credits his Native American as well as his Anglo--pioneer roots for making him a songwriter. His musical influences, though, owe more to writers of the modern West such as Dan Fogelberg and James Taylor than to old--time cowboy songs. This album gets the full Nashville treatment with lots of overdubs and guest shots by the likes of Stuart Duncan on mandolin. Smooth and sweet. (Warner Western)
--John Herndon
The Gourds, Stadium Blitzer. Too many young acoustic bands sound like their record collection started with Wilco. Not this Austin, Texas, four--piece. While mining the eclectic alt--country tradition for all it's worth, from the bluegrass--rock of "Cold Bed" to the Scottish polka of "I Ate the Haggis" to the scary Appalachian lament of "Plaid Coat," the Gourds pull it off with an unaffectedness that is extremely endearing. In a world of ready--mades, the Gourds are roll--your--owns. (Watermelon, PO Box 49056, Austin, TX 78765)
--David Gold
VIDEOS
Chris Smither, Arrangements in Contemporary Blues Style. Smither is one of our very best songwriter--guitarists, and his unique accompaniment style is presented on this 85--minute video in great detail. Smither unlocks the secrets that make songs like "Happier Blue," "Link of Chain," and "Can't Shake These Blues" move and groove without the aid of a band, while "Hold On" and "Killin' the Blues" demonstrate his approach to ballad accompaniment and open--D tuning. (Homespun Tapes, PO Box 694, Woodstock, NY 12498)
--James Jensen
Andrew York, Contemporary Classic Guitar. Mel Bay's new Artist Series video line is a departure from the many how--to products on the market. For 40 minutes, York plays and briefly speaks about seven of his compositions and a Bach gigue. Featured are his reggae--based "Marley's Ghost," the melancholy "In Sorrow's Wake," the odd--time workout "King Lotvin," and the Metheny--esque "Sunburst/Jubilation." He discusses tone color, articulation, rhythm, form, and the inspiration for the music. York's playing is expressive, and his comments are insightful. A great close--up of one of today's most respected composer--performers. (Mel Bay)
--Mark L. Small
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