This disc is the first in a two-volume survey of modern fingerstyle (as opposed to flatpicking) guitarists who specialize in arrangements of traditional Irish and Scots tunes; for each disc, there is a companion videotape of the same title available separately. The videotape includes complete notation of all the arrangements in tablature and traditional notation. Volume 1 is perhaps the more consistently satisfying of the two discs, but that may be an illusion based on the appearance at the very beginning of three ...
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This disc is the first in a two-volume survey of modern fingerstyle (as opposed to flatpicking) guitarists who specialize in arrangements of traditional Irish and Scots tunes; for each disc, there is a companion videotape of the same title available separately. The videotape includes complete notation of all the arrangements in tablature and traditional notation. Volume 1 is perhaps the more consistently satisfying of the two discs, but that may be an illusion based on the appearance at the very beginning of three unbelievably sumptuous performances by uber-guitarist Martin Simpson. His medley of "Believe Me If All These Endearing Young Charms" and "Waters of Tyne" is one of the loveliest things ever committed to tape. Steve Baughman, who takes a funkier approach on "Bony Crossing the Alps," isn't far behind him. The legendary French guitarist Pierre Bensusan has lots of fun with "Merrily Kiss the Quaker," but his style is a bit more clattery than the others. El McMeen should get a medal for making "Danny Boy" sound fresh. Aficionados will wonder at the omissions from these collections (where's Dick Gaughan? Bert Jansch? John Renbourn?), but they're still essential listening. ~ Rick Anderson, Rovi
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