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! 

 

Doug Smith   “Guitar Parts”  Solid Air Records  2007 

Finger-picking champion Doug Smith's latest CD “Guitar Parts”
consists of 16 tracks with many originals and some covers like
the theme of “The Magnificent Seven”. Doug Smith is a creator
of atmosphere with impressive guitar techniques and a soulful
approach to acoustic guitar music. The opening cut “Ante Up”
has a very nice swing with a melodic setup. Very nice
soothing compositions like “Hold On”, “Sunday Sonata”, Waltz for
Sara”, an arrangement of” Ave Maria” by Franz Schubert and
“Fifty Years Ago, really are heart-warming. More uplifting pieces are
“Springtime”, “The Magnificent Seven” and at The Boardwalk”.
“Guitar Parts” is a new masterwork with much varied guitar
art. Doug Smith also released a Christmas CD called “A Guitar
for Christmas”, check it out.

Henk te Veldhuis
Bridge Guitar Reviews
© 2007

Doug Smith, "Guitar Parts," Solid Air Records, 2007

Doug Smith is a classically-trained musician who composes most of his material and performs on steel-string guitar. He won the Winfield International Fingerstyle Competition in 2006 and is in Solid Air's top echelon of players. Many of the pieces on this disc first appeared on American Gramaphone's Day Parts albums, but are newly recorded and retitled here (for publishing reasons). The opening "Ante Up" illustrates Smith’s approach -- clear melodies supported by well-developed chords and contrapuntal lines in the middle and bass registers. Smith fully develops each arrangement with contrasting rhythms and key changes that attract the listener’s attention, but always sound "right." His sound is bright, but not harsh, and a close listen suggests he uses either quite a bit of fingernail or picks. The whimsical "Night of the Raccoons" recalls "Teddy Bears’ Picnic." "Your Valentine" is one of the strongest pieces on the CD, with a melody that wends through several registers, complemented by gentle arpeggios. "Springtime" follows, evoking the optimism and uplift that comes with the season. I was surprised to hear Elmer Bernstein’s "Magnificent Seven" (although now I can’t get the Marlboro cigarette commercial that used it out off my head), but Smith plays the piece with his usual mastery. As expected, "Sor Phalanges" recalls Spanish classical guitar -- down to its bones (pun intended). On the haunting "Waltz for Sara," Smith states the melody flawlessly over an ascending bass line. Two double-tracked duets, "Ave Maria/Can’t Help Falling in Love" and "Arabesque," add variety to the program. "Arabesque" is the more classically-oriented of the two duets and features exquisite interplay between his two parts. The CD ends with "Saturday Sunrise," which is perfectly titled, due to its unhurried, reflective mood. Doug Smith is a master composer and musician. I hope this disc gains him a higher profile among guitar aficionados.
© Patrick Ragains Minor 7th.com