Doug Smith & Mark Hanson, "Guitar Confluence, Live," Solid Air Records 2013

Smith and Hanson are clearly having fun on "Guitar Confluence," a live performance CD of contemporary steel string acoustic fingerstyle guitar in the trajectory of Michael Hedges, Alex de Grassi, and Leo Kottke. The guitarists play together as if they have forever. In fact, they released their first duo album in 2001 and both appeared, as soloists and a duo, on Grammy-winning "Pink Guitar" in 2005 (their duet "A Shot in the Dark" is included here). "Guitar Confluence" is quite varied, with inventive renditions of many pop turns, including a set of Beatles songs, a slip gig, a Hawaiian slack key offering ("Waimea Canyon") and the terrific "Dyerville Giant," titled for a giant redwood tree, which features propulsive percussive tapping. The pieces are on the short side, but the advantage that this allows the musicians to showcase many styles and techniques, including a few jazz and blues stylings. One of the most exciting is the Celtic-sounding "Masters in This Hall," with wild rhythmic strumming and fast fingerwork. The two solos on the CD - a rendition of "Ava Maria" (in which Smith reveals his classical training) and Hanson's version of traditional "The River Is Wide" - are especially lovely. The album comes to a close with the jaw dropping "Jerry's Breakdown," a fitting conclusion to a strong collection, which also comes with a bonus DVD.
© Céline Keating/ MINOR 7TH