MY FAVORITE MARTIN
Grammy award winning Solid Air Records and world renowned acoustic guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co. are proud to announce a collaborative CD entitled My Favorite Martin. All of the songs on this unique compilation were recorded on Martin Instruments or signature models owned by the individual artists, and many of the tracks were written or recorded specifically for this release. An incredible roster of artists, and an amazing collection of great guitar playing a wide variety of styles...all on their favorite Martin Guitars!
Notes / Track List
PINK GUITAR
Henry Mancini is forever…few popular composers have stuck so many great tunes in our heads. So Solid Air Records asked a dozen great guitarists to pick a classic Henry Mancini tune and whip up an equally classic solo guitar arrangement. Some hookups seemed obvious…the incredible Pink Panther Theme was a perfect match for Laurence Juber’s outrageous playing, and Moon River’s beauty was perfectly placed with Ed Gerhard. But that’s just a start; many exciting and beautiful twists and turns await you on this marvelous theme collection.
Liner Notes / Track List , Review
COLE PORTER : DELOVELY GUITAR The follow up to our GRAMMY winning Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar featuring many of the same players and many new artists from around the world!
COLE PORTER “DELOVELY GUITAR” 2007 Solid Air Records All guitarists made their own creative touch to Cole Porter's compositions. Eltjo Haselhoff's interpretation of “You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To” impresses a lot, just like David Cullen does on “Night and Day”. Laurence Juber excels on “I've Got You Under My Skin” and Jim Tozier on “Begin The Beguine”. Wayne Johnson's approach to “Love For Sale” is brilliant. Just as Tim Pacheco's contribution on “True Love"
- Henk te Veldhuis Bridge Guitar Reviews
Heard any good catalogs lately?
Solid Air Records' sampler cd's each give you more than an hour of outstanding acoustic guitar tracks by the worlds greatest acoustic guitarists!
Acoustic Guitar Highlights Vol.4
21 tracks from our most recent 21 releases to give the listener an inexpensive preview of our CDs! Budget priced but packed with nearly 80 minutes of the greatest guitar playing from around the world.
The ten original compositions on this CD represent a true live in studio spontaneous collaboration which has been compared to the great duets of Jansch / Renbourn.
Artist Interview
Like the mystery and possibilities that its title suggests, "Crop Circles" confronts listeners with inventive sounds and melodies that only an acoustic guitar can make. Or can it? That's the challenge and the mystery. Johnstone and Jorgenson make acoustic guitars sound like you've never heard them sound before.
Artist Interview
GRATITUDE
Winner of the instrumental acoustic Record of the Year from AFIM (Association for Independent Music) Gratitude is truly special. Pocket Change is a small taste of the pleasures awaiting…and features our first Groovemistress!
Notes from the Artists
SONGS FOR OUR ANCESTORS
Classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery and folk/celtic/New Age master William Coulter combined talents on our 4th in our Groovemasters duo series. This lovely sounding, truly masterful recording reveals more layers with each listen.
GUTS AND STEEL
With Thom Bresh on steel string and Buster B Jones on nylon, Marcel’s Thumb is about midway between their string-burners and their beautiful ballads. Chet Atkins said: “There’s nothing like hearing them play together… it can’t be duplicated.”
Liner Notes , Thom Bresh Website
EQUILIBRÉ
Take one part acoustic guitar wizard and one part world’s premier fretless bassist, mix them together and…voilá: Equilibré. Eclectic, funky, danceable originals: guitarist Cullen and bassist Manring sizzle. You’ll love it like we do!
Album Notes by David Cullen,
Album Review , More about David Cullen
THE POWER OF TWO
Fine-tuned harmonies, songs rich in melody and invention. Well known guitarist/instructor Mark Hanson teams up with popular Doug Smith to create not only the tallest partnership in our series, but one which reminds us of Jansch and Renbourn.
Album Notes , Notes from Mark Hanson
TWO OF A KIND
Fingerstyle champion Pat Donohue and Swing/Blues great Mike Dowling have created our most recent duo project "Two Of A Kind: Groovemasters Vol. 8".
Slow blues shuffles , hot Swing and kickin Ragtime numbers abound on this fun fun fun collection..
"its GREAT!!!!" ...Dean Markley
CELTIC GUITAR SUMMIT
Celtic guitar master Steve Baughman and virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Robin Bullock have gotten together to record a rarity in Celtic music: an entire album of guitar duos. With the two of them living nine time zones apart, it wasn’t an easy collaboration to put together, but we are absolutely certain you’re going to agree that their fi ve intense days and nights at Al Petteway’s studio in Maryland was truly worth the effort.
The 10th in our series of unique and wonderful Acoustic Guitar duo recordings ...finds legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy along with his lifelong friend and picking partner Mike Pachelli creating a place of great joy and beauty for all who listen to visit for the better part of an hour
2 Blue 4 Words is a sampler collection with modern day practicioners of the Blues, brought togother to record instrumental albums.
CLAWHAMMER GUITAR
Clawhammer is a picking technique that the guitar world has almost completely ignored. This collection illustrates the incredible emotive power of clawhammer technique when applied to the guitar. This is the first clawhammer guitar album ever recorded and it is sure to create a major buzz in the guitar world.
OLD WORLD CHRISTMAS
Much of the music on this album was handed down to Steve from the German side of his family. This album contains a balance of obscure and ancient tunes and old standards. Alas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is not on this collection.
THE ANGEL’S PORTION
One of today’s great celtic players, Baughman plumbed Celtic, Appalachian and Swedish tunes for this collection. Arrangements of traditional tunes are sublime and his originals are so catchy you assume they’re traditional as well.
THE COLLECTION
A favorite player in Australia this collection is a highlight of his first few recordings and a few unreleased gems. Blending Jazz/Blues and Folk inspirations Charles is as talented a composer as he is a virtuoso player.
A brilliant debut CD from a young guitar star from Nashville! Danny Combs is a terrific player/composer and here are his thoughts on the tunes on this CD!
Travelling Fingerpicker
A new recording by Aussie picker Nick Charles featuring 10 original compositions alongside a wonderful arrangement of Norwegian Wood and Norman Blake's "Down at Millow's House" all played with his typical virtuosity and charm.
GUITAR TRAVELS
Guitar Travels started out as a solo guitar project. As Jeff Towne and I got into recording the pieces, it became evident that in order to create a clear picture of the travel destination for each tune a 2nd guitar part was called for. I went in and recorded second guitar parts. . So here you have GUITAR TRAVELS , a duo guitar travelogue. ...David Cullen
GRATEFUL GUITAR
Cullen gets it Dead right with Grateful Guitar! The project was an idea that came to me years ago when I started including them in my shows. A book of 10 tunes is also available. It will also include a Lesson CD with performance tips on each tune in the book. Its always been fun to play these tunes in their solo arrangements capturing the vibe and feel of an acoustic Grateful Dead show.
THE COLLECTION
Many people fi rst heard David Cullen as the performer leading off the initial Windham Hill Records Guitar Sampler and were blown away. Solid Air Records has brought David back to the forefront of acoustic guitar music by issuing recordings of him as a solo, with a string quartet, with Jill Haley on oboe, and of course with world class bassist Michael Manring. This collection presents a brief peek at all those exciting projects and hopefully will whet your appetite for more. As a bonus we have included a performance and interview David made with John Diliberto on the Echoes Living Room Concert Series.
IN THE POCKET
When David Cullen told me he had access to a studio for a few hours and might lay down some demos for a solo CD in the next year, I was pleased to hear he was already working on new compositions. When I received 15 finished recordings – which not only featured fully fleshed-out tunes, but an absolutely stunning performance level throughout – it was obvious we had a new record, not a new demo. David’s typically low key and humble response to my enthusiastic call was… “I had a good day.” We are honored to again present another set from a great musician and guarantee a good day for all who listen.
EXPLODING COLORS
Features David Cullen’s guitar with oboe and English horn in a set of picturesque compositions.
ONE NIGHT ONE GUITAR LIVE!
David Cullen, solo guitar in hand, dazzles the audience with a mix of original tunes (like the one you hear on this sampler), a BACH suite, and the jazz classic, BIRDLAND, for good measure. The audience has been edited out and the sound is superior!
INDIGO BLUE
Most of us first heard David Cullen as the opening cut on the first Windham Hill Guitar Sampler. With roots in classical and jazz (like Ralph Towner), Cullen also has a funkier side. Indigo Blue is over an hour of very melodic and inspiring composing/playing.
Review - The Reading Times
HOLIDAY GUITAR
Our latest seasonal recording is the first to feature nylon string guitar playing and the jazz and classical sensibilities of one of our favorite sons. David Cullen’s arrangements makes all these holiday favorites new all over again.
CLASSICAL JAZZ
His latest live recording features the illustrious David Cullen plus a string quartet! The music is original, with a mix of jazz and classical flavors. This very eclectic group of performances and performers is certain to delight your ears.
Liner Notes
BOTTOMLANDS
Noted slide and swing jazz player Mike Dowling has put together a luminous folk/blues cd with Bottomlands. The sample track, Johnson City Rag, features his 1979 Martin m-36. Dowling ‘s National Tricone is also heard on much of this timeless album!
Liner Notes
Album Reviews: Blues in Britain , Bismark Tribune
Jim Earps stunningly lovely holiday collection
Jim Earp covers some great tunes in fun and provocative arrangements in "Guitar Uncovered"
“Touch, Tone and Taste.” Those are the bywords for this exquisite collection compiled from Jim’s three self-released CDs. With beauty, bite and a richness of diversity, Jim embraces each note and makes it sing. Whether arranging others’ compositions or his own creations, Jim’s music delivers a tasty melodicism!
PETER FINGER COLLECTION
Finger is one of the premier players/composers in the world. We assembled our favorite tracks from his five albums to create this “greatest hits” cd. GUITAR PLAYER magazine said: “If you love acoustic guitar you must hear this compelling artist.”
SUNNYLAND
Ed's blues influenced guitar masterpiece!
Featuring many great solo guitar picking tunes a few terrific slide numbers and many surprises!
From The Netherlands , fingerstyle sensation Eltjo Haselhoff's second release "Guitar Magic" is creating a stir in Europe that it extending worldwide! The opening track "White Lightning" alone is enough to guarantee entrance into the fingerpickers Hall of Fame!
FINGERSTYLE GUITAR SOLOS
Often compared to Australias great Tommy Emmanuel, Eltjo Haselhoff is a inventive and exciting composer and performer.
FINGERSTYLE GUITAR CLASSICS
Known as one of the great ragtime pickers from the early days of Kicking Mule Records, Lasse Johansson returns with a wonderful 20 track collection of classic tunes from early in the 20th century by composers like Fats Waller to George Gershwin!
ONE GUITAR
It’s impossible to find words for this combination of georgous balladry and absolute kick ass picking. Solid Air Records promises that you have never heard nylon string guitar sound like this!
Laurence Juber's Latest : POP goes GUITAR
Every Breath You Take, Stand By Me, God Only Knows, Maybe I'm Amazed, In My Life, Alison, Your Song, Oh! Darling, My Girl, Angie, My Love and Let It Be. A great CD for guitarists but an even better gift for music lovers in general!
PCH
Recorded at the historic Capitol Records Hollywood Studio and featuring guest performances by Leland Sklar on Bass, Russ Kunkel on Drums and Jim Cox on keys....this is perhaps the ultimate Laurence Juber recording!
LJ Plays Harold Arlen!!!!
A selection of arrangements of the some of the greatest tunes ever written by the guitarist that brought you "LJ Plays The Beatles" , "One Wing" and "the Pink Panther Theme" from the GRAMMY winning Henry Mancini : Pink Guitar CD!!!
Solo Acoustic Guitar Arrangements of Classic Wings' Songs
1 Band On The Run / 4:54 2 Another Day / 3:22 3 Jet / 3:46 4 My Love / 3:12 5 Every Night / 3:52 6 With A Little Luck / 3:32 7 Maybe I’m Amazed / 4:15 8 Silly Love Songs / 3:22 9 Listen To What The Man Said / 3:45 10 Coming Up / 3:22 11 Arrow Through Me / 3:13 12 Live And Let Die / 3:00 13 Mull Of Kintyre / 3:53
GUITARIST
Juber returns to the all solo guitar format his fans crave with this collection of self penned numbers. In a variety of styles Juber' talents for composing catchy tunes continues to shine. Most of these are available on his second anthology of transcriptions due fall 2003.
LJ Plays the Beatles
The long awaited CD by Laurence Juber, with his arrangements of such classic Beatle songs as "I Saw Her Standing There", "Yesterday", "In My Life", and many more!
Naked Solos
2 CD set of Laurence's first two albums, Solo Flight and Naked Guitar, which has been resequenced and remastered! Also includes a bonus track!
The Collection
Features never before released version of Laurence's arrangement of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing", plus remastered versions of "Solo Flight" and "Cobalt Blue", plus favorites like "Pass the Buck", "In Your Arms", "White Pass Trail", and much more!
DIFFERENT TIMES
The most popular artist on our label, Juber has crafted yet another winner. Different Times is cut from the same sort of immensely tasty, lively and lilting musical cloth as his popular LJ and Mosaic recordings and will charm his fans yet again.
Laurence Juber "LJ Remastered".... features three bonus tracks on a completely remastered album..
1) Pass the Buck (alternate SOLO mix)
2) Bob's Your Uncle (SOLO recording)
3) Rules of The Road (alternate SOLO mix)
Guitar with light ensemble backing. "Clean, rhythmically spot-on playing which is a percussive, lyrical delight"
- GUITAR PLAYER
Winter Guitar
All solo guitar arrangements of seasonal, classical and original tunes, all with that "hot chocolate by the fire" feeling.
Mosaic
The long awaited follow-up to our all-time best selling CD LJ by Laurence Juber. includes Free bonus CD You can still get LJX4 absolutely free with the purchase of Mosaic. Do It!
Album Review
A FIST FULL OF RIFFS
One of the most energetic and exciting blues performers in the world, Catfish kept his vocal cords in his guitar case and created an all-instrumental blues classic for us, and you. Crunchy, funky, string snapping fun, laced with tasty bits of slide.
Liner Notes , Update from Catfish
TRACY MOORE COLLECTION
He plays the 12-string like nobody else and his use of individual strings and tunes rich with harmony and counterpoint truly sets him apart. Tracy’s “live and loose” version of this Stephen Foster chestnut was just too cool not to include here.
A GATHERING OF GUIDES
From California comes Tim Pacheco...... who specializes in a warm and engaging tone and beautiful ballad work.
SHADES OF BLUE
“Contemporary instrumental music played with self-dicipline rather than self-indulgence, with real melodies rather than vague moods, and with roots that are respected rather than diluted.”
~ ~ The Washington Post
DRIVE IT HOME
The Telecaster master (Simon & Garfunkel regular and Ralph Maccio’s hands in the movie CROSSROADS) does an all-acoustic outing. Pop/blues and jazzy originals plus stunning versions of Layla and the classic Anji: sure to please and surprise!
"The king of Hot Licks presents a delicate, down-home vibe on this all-acoustic album" - Guitar Player Magazine, July 2002
GUITAR PARTS
Dougs latest collection of original material....well almost all original material! Fingerpicking Champion Doug Smith's latest....Guitar Parts has some of his most intricate and fun compositions and a cover ....done solo....of the Theme From ..."The Magnificent Seven" that will have guitarists absolutely dumbfounded and listeners tapping their feet and humming along!
THE COLLECTION
Doug Smith’s guitar playing can be summed up by this phrase: impressive technique at the service of highly melodic and memorable tunes. Solid Air Records has been honored to be able to help Doug’s music reach out into the world. This collection is merely the tip of the iceberg as far as Doug’s catalog of tunes is concerned and we hope you check out his other titles as well. To keep this new collection suitably special, it includes a couple of memorable new songs and a version of “Take 5” which will have players clamoring for tab.
ALONE AGAIN
The success of Doug’s Alone at Last solo CD prompted this new collection of succulent solo acoustic instrumentals. This new CD is not just a new bunch of tunes: it also represents Doug’s fi nest hour. This is arguably Doug’s fi nest outing to date. And it’s totally Doug Smith: Doug not only wrote and played all the tunes, he served as producer as well. As you listen, you can’t help but be amazed and touched. This a rare type of music that’s full of warmth, humor and beauty.
Order of Magnitude
Doug's long time out of print debut for American Gramaphone is resissued with two stunning solo bonus tracks! A popular disc which features many of his most requested tunes like "Renewal" and the title track!
Notes from the Artist
LABYRINTH
One of our most perenially popular artists, the sample track from this album, A Fine Line, shows off both his wonderfully intricate playing and his remarkable compositional abilities.
Notes from the Artist
CHRISTMAS GUITAR
This was last year’s best selling holiday release. Always a favorite, Doug Smith has spent many years working up the arrangments heard on this recording. Music/tab is coming soon for those wishing to learn the tunes themselves.
Alone At Last
His first totally solo recording! co-produced by Laurence Juber, finally in stock! The sound is great and the compositions run an emotional and technical gamut from playful to jaw-dropping virtuosity and topped off with a couple beautiful ballads. Twelve in all!
CIRCULAR MOTION
Featured in Fingerstyle Guitar magazine last year, Amrit Sond is a rising star from England. A recent reviewer said: ”His radical approach to the instrument is awe inspiring.” The sample is a less radical tune, but still reflects his awesome musicianship.
Reviews - Virtually Acoustic - Josaka - Windsor Arts Centre
MEMORY & PRAISE
1. Mrs. Poer, or, the Concerto (4:01) 2. Ducks on the Pond / The Frosty Morning (5:00) 3. Squire Wood’s Lamentation on the Loss of His Half Pence (2:56) 4. An Phis Fluich, or, The Choice Wife (2:32) 5. Manx Lullaby / O’Carolan’s Welcome (3:36) 6. O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music (4:30) 7. Bells (1:35) 8. The Lamentation of Owen Roe O’Neill (3:23) 9. Mona Vu (2:42) 10. The Rights of Man (4:12) 11. The Connemara Stocking (2:09) 12. Shady Grove / Salt River (3:30) 13. Mabel Kelly (4:33)
1. Polly Put the Kettle On (2:39) 2. Farewell Trion (2:48) 3. The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2:47) 4. Sally Cooper/The Last of Sizemore (2:27) 5. Dennis Murphy’s/The £42 Cheque/John Ryan’s (3:13) 6. Texas (3:07) 7. Falls of Richmond (5:01) 8. The Joke on the Puppy (2:22) 9. Itzikel (3:09) 10. Angeline (3:34) 11. Cluck Old Hen (2:33) 12. Waiting for Nancy (4:14) 13. Chasing the Moon (2:24) 14. Tumblin’ Gap (3:09) 15. Black-Eyed Susie (2:09) 16. Joe Bane’s Reel (1:54)
GUITAR BLUES
WEST COAST BLUES
Known the world over for his many years touring with singer/harmonica player Tom Ball, Kenny Sultan steps out on his own for this killer solo acoustic blues recording. George Thoro-good said it best:”This guy can play!”
Masa Sumidé's most recent collection of orginal solo guitar tunes find him sounding like a one man Groovemasters and the Laurence Juber/Preston Reed variety to be sure. With a funky groove and a jazzers chord vocabulary Sumidé delivers some of his all time best compositions with a blues bite on top. Sumide also adds a few delicously melodic ballads to keep things from being predictable although our prediction is you will love this CD!
MASA SUMIDÉ COLLECTION
Originally from Japan, Masa Sumide now resides in Australia and has three albums to his credit. Our Collection pulls tracks from all three. The great Tuck Andress enthused: “I can't imagine anyone not playing these over and over.”
GUITAR PIECES
JIM TOZIER'S latest and greatest..... a wonderful collection of new tunes recorded by Al Petteway and mastered by GRAMMY winner Bill Wolf.
CASTLEREA
Jim's critically-acclaimed debut recording, Castlerea, contains 19 tracks of original compositions and traditional Celtic tunes. Songs are: Owen's March, M'inion Alainn, Trinity, Castlerea, Planxty Irwin, The Last Keeper, Patuxent, The Blacksmith/Passion's Forge, Idyll Hours, County Fair, Furey's Song/Faire Wind, Tilting at Windmills, The Rights of Man/Brian Boru's March, Pretty Girl Milking a Cow, The Courtship, Rings, The Ride of the Red Knight (with Al Petteway and Amy White), It Came Upon a Midnight Clear/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (with Al Petteway), and O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
CELTIC GUITAR
"Celtic Guitar" is a lovely collection of 21+ Celtic tunes by one of the masters of the genre. A book of transcriptions is in the near future...watch the site(s) for more information! Tunes: Paddy O'Carroll, Archibald McDonald of Keppoch, Slane, The Rocks of Brae, The Foggy Dew, Carolan's Welcome, Loch Lomond/ Scotland the Brave, Blind Mary, Spatter The Dew, Captain O'Kane, Believe Me If All These Endearing Young Charms, Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation, Star of the County Down, Carolan's Cottage, Leezie Lindsay/ Ye Banks and Braes/ Scots Wha Hae, Heather Island, The FLower Of Magherally, Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore/ The Drums of Dawn, The Rose of Allendale, Pretty Girl Milking a Cow...and Planxty Irwin.
SOLO GUITAR
"Solo Guitar" is a solid 16 track compilation of original compositions by rising star Jim Tozier. Toziers tunes are lyrical and yet groove produced & recorded by Al Petteway this collection is reminicent of not only his wonderful work behind the recording desk but his tasteful playing as well. Songs are: Monkeyshines, The Water-Crossers, Song for Shannon, Dalliance of the Eagles, Dragonflies, The Sheffield Shuffle, The Copper Waltz, Skylight, Ripples, Frenchman Bay, New York, The Rakes of Roscommon, Train Station Blues, Riverwind,, Trinity, Sleight of Hand/ The Magicians Jig
CELTIC GUITAR
"Celtic Guitar" is a lovely collection of 21+ Celtic tunes by one of the masters of the genre. A book of transcriptions is in the near future...watch the site(s) for more information! Tunes: Paddy O'Carroll, Archibald McDonald of Keppoch, Slane, The Rocks of Brae, The Foggy Dew, Carolan's Welcome, Loch Lomond/ Scotland the Brave, Blind Mary, Spatter The Dew, Captain O'Kane, Believe Me If All These Endearing Young Charms, Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation, Star of the County Down, Carolan's Cottage, Leezie Lindsay/ Ye Banks and Braes/ Scots Wha Hae, Heather Island, The FLower Of Magherally, Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore/ The Drums of Dawn, The Rose of Allendale, Pretty Girl Milking a Cow...and Planxty Irwin.
SOLO GUITAR
"Solo Guitar" is a solid 16 track compilation of original compositions by rising star Jim Tozier. Toziers tunes are lyrical and yet groove produced & recorded by Al Petteway this collection is reminicent of not only his wonderful work behind the recording desk but his tasteful playing as well. Songs are: Monkeyshines, The Water-Crossers, Song for Shannon, Dalliance of the Eagles, Dragonflies, The Sheffield Shuffle, The Copper Waltz, Skylight, Ripples, Frenchman Bay, New York, The Rakes of Roscommon, Train Station Blues, Riverwind,, Trinity, Sleight of Hand/ The Magicians Jig
GUITAR PLAYER
"Guitar Player" is renowned singer/songwriter Brooks Williams instrumental solo acoustic guitar masterpiece! Williams tunes are spirited and beautiful....with echoes of Fahey, Joseph Spence and Pat Metheny. Songs include: Bakerloo, Gentle Rain, Working Dog, The Bright Field, Jaguar, Happy Chappy, Some Other Time, The Drowsy Bee, Triangular Situations, All That Is Gold", Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Aguinaldo Jibara, Far Away, In christ there is no East of West, South Hill and ...I Bid you Goodnight
GUITAR HARVEST Vol.1
Performances by 27 leading guitarists from the worlds of jazz, rock, folk and classical music. Andy Summers, guitarist from The Police, Ralph Towner, solo guitarist and member of Oregon, Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Laurence Juber, David Cullen, Pierre Bensusan, Alex de Grassi, Bill Frisell, Henry Kaiser, Gary Lucas, Michael Manring, Tony McManus, Arlen Roth, David Russell, and over a dozen other guitar legends offer new or previously unreleased performances – all to benefit the New York Guitar Festival’s scholarship fund for New York City school children.
