Andy Jurik’s ‘Strive’ is a Stimulating and Wide-Ranging Solo Collection
Andy Jurik's "Strive" is quite a showcase for the incredibly diverse interests of this eclectic, superb classical guitarist who also embraces pop, folk, and jazz.
Album Reviews
Sunny War and Her Guild Dreadnought Shine on the Evocative ‘Simple Syrup’
After listening to Sunny War's Simple Syrup, you won’t be able to get the melodies of this one-of-a-kind songwriter/guitarist out of your head.
Ravel, Debussy, and More on ‘Intimate Impressions’ From Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan
"Intimate Impressions" by Canadian classical guitarists Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan draws on their own arrangements of piano works by Ravel and Debussy.
C.E. Jones’ ‘The Goldberg Variations’ Is an Imaginative Melding of Bach and Bluegrass
Baroque & bluegrass make not-so-strange bedfellows with C.E. Jones’ adaptation of The Goldberg Variations, J.S. Bach’s 30-piece suite bookended by two arias.
Timeless Irish Music Feels Fresh and New on John Doyle’s ‘The Path of Stones’
All but one song on "The Path of Stones" feature multiple layered parts by the left-handed guitarist John Doyle, sometimes contrasting strumming & deft fingerpicking.
Cristina Vane’s Slide Guitar Shines on Debut Album ‘Nowhere Sounds Lovely’
With her debut album, "Nowhere Sounds Lovely," Italian-born Cristina Vane trains her outsider’s eye on America drawing on a number of different guitar styles.
Mark O’Connor’s First Acoustic Guitar Record in Four Decades Is Flashy and Substantive
After four decades mostly playing violin, Mark O'Connor returns triumphantly to acoustic guitar on flashy and eclectic solo set 'Markology II'
Album Review: Chris Smither’s ‘More from the Levee’ Offers Unfiltered Bayou Blues
Most of the tunes on Smither’s 18th album are unreleased gems from the New Orleans sessions that resulted in his career retrospective "Still on the Levee."
Album Review: Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno Dig Deep into Country and Old-time Roots
From the May/June 2021 issue of Acoustic Guitar | By Kenny BerkowitzIn the three years since Vivian Leva’s debut, Time is Everything, her writing has g... Read More...
Album Review: M. Ward’s ‘Think of Spring’ Is a Stripped-down Take on a Billie Holiday Classic
How do you re-create a lush Billie Holiday album? If you're M. Ward, you grab an acoustic guitar and a handful of open tunings and record to 4-track.