Ross Hammond: Riding Dragons In Winter
At the end of August, I featured four great guitar albums with the promise of more to come and so I’m back with another set of wonderful guitar music. While Thanksgiving is about eating and watching football, it’s also a time for some self-reflection and this set of guitar music should help you get into that meditative inward mood. That’s definitely true of the newest from Ross Hammond, a RecommNed regular. The album is Riding Dragons In Winter and it is a delight of solo resonator guitar and the Sacramento native’s brand of Appalachian ragas. Lose yourself for a while in these drone-heavy meditations and explorations.
Gwenifer Raymond: You Never Were Much Of A Dancer
A new arrival on the burgeoning American primitive scene comes from the U.K. Gwenifer Raymond out of Brighton, England, is a revelation of thoughtful, peaceful guitar … and more, with some banjo and fiddle mixed in on her debut album You Never Were Much Of A Dancer. It’s kind of hard to believe this is a debut, the music feels so timeless and wizened, Raymond’s guitar (and banjo and fiddle) is an old soul. This one is a spiritual refresher, highly recommended.
Steve Tibbetts: Life Of
Steve Tibbetts comes at this week’s column from more of the jazz world, having spent decades putting out guitar music on the vaunted ECM label. But his music also fits right into the Americana guitar realm and his recent ECM release, Life Of, is a sparse, beautiful set of inward looking playing. With some light accompaniment from percussion and cello at times, a mix of American and Asian sounds, Tibbett’s light touch managed to employ a wide palette of sound and texture. Perfect for background relaxation or deep-dive listening. Enjoy!
Glenn Jones: The Giant Who Ate Himself And Other New Works For 6 & 12 String Guitar
Finally, I can’t finish up a column of recommendations on American primitive guitar playing without making sure you get a good listen to the newest from master of the genre, Glenn Jones. His latest has the playful title of The Giant Who Ate Himself And Other New Works For 6 & 12 String Guitar which is a nice self-contained journey on its own. Jones’ music maintains that lovely, meditative energy of the other guitarists from this week’s picks, but also finds a way to tell a story through the playing. There is a comfort and joy that comes through this playing in a genre that can occasionally feel a bit pensive. Maybe a good one to listen to while eating your pie. Enjoy your Thanksgiving, enjoy the new tunes!
