Here I'll give you my take on new and older recordings. I've got pretty eclectic tastes, so you might be surprised at what you find here. Hopefully I can find some overlooked gems that you'll really enjoy!
OK, perhaps the greatest guitar CD of 2009 is Laurence Juber's outstanding Wooden Horses. Read why I think so here.
STOP THE PRESSES! The great guitar CD of 2009 may well be "Poppin' Guitars: A Tuneful of Sherman". Read why in my review here.
If you are a fan of the guitar at all then you don't want to have missed Guitarist by Laurence Juber. My review of this amazing solo guitar album is here.
LJ also has a terrific album of Harold Arlen songs. CLICK HERE FOR MY REVIEW OF LJ's CD I've Got the World on Six Strings.
I am also planning a series of analyses of songs to help you play better and to improve your songwriting if you want to. Reading for pleasure is allowed too!
My analysis of Love at First Sight from LJ's CD Guitarist is here.
LJ teams up with Preston Reed for an astonishing duo performance on Groovemasters Vol. 1. Read the review, listen to the excerpts, buy the CD!
Chet Atkins inspired so many of us to play fingerstyle and forever changed the way guitar was played. I have reviewed two of my favourite albums by Chet here: Me and My Guitar and Solo Sessions. Both are required listening.
Tommy Emmanuel is another guitarist that every guitar player and music lover should know. My review of his stellar 2-CD concert recording Center Stage is here. Another fine live set is captured on Live One, which I review here.
Solid Air Records has produced a terrific collection of guitarists on Cole Porter: DELOVELY GUITAR. I review this fantastic CD here.
Another cool Solid Air Collection is My Favourite Martin. Read my review here.
Mark Hanson is a performer, arranger, composer, and teacher who released two new CDs recently. Read my review of Love Songs for Guitar here and its companion CD Great American Songbook for Guitar here. Be sure not to miss his earlier collection of (mostly) originals: Author's Notes. It may be the best guitar CD you have overlooked!
Adam Rafferty is a name you might not know, but his latest album Gratitude is a real gem. If you like funky, jazzy solo guitar, it doesn't get much better than this.
Bob Evans is a great Canadian guitarist who also writes some very cool music. You owe it to yourself to check out his latest CD of Beatles tuned entitled:
4 on 6.
Don Ross and Andy McKee give us some top-notch duo playing on the thing that came from somewhere.
Don Maloney is an up and coming guitarist who really rocks out on both 7-string and 8-string guitars. Great thumb! Read my review of his CD Eight Rivers here.
Suzanne Frank and Paul Kramer are an up-and-coming Canadian guitar duo that are well worth checking out. I'm expecting great things from these two, and now is you chance to "know them when". Read my review of their CD Two People here.
One of my favourite CDs is Brazlian Guitar by Pat Kirtley with John Standefer. You should check this one out for sure. Read my review here.
Looking for something DIFFERENT but FUN? Read my review of Greg Hawkes' fantastic CD The Beatles Uke!
David Barrett is a Toronto guitarist who you really should hear. Check out my review of his CD The Dead Armhere.
David Gillis is a Niagara guitarist with a great ear for a catchy tune. Read my review of his CD Wish Where You Are here.