This great event is
held annually in two locations, Nashville and Los Angeles. One
of the most recent performances was captured on DVD, and we've
had the good fortune and privilege to review the recording for
Homespun Tapes (www.homespuntapes.com).
Let me hopefully be
the first to tell you that this performance is downright incredible,
simply jaw-dropping if you happen to appreciate great fingerstyle
guitar music, regardless of genre. Muriel is in fine form on
three selections, including the classic "Vincent" by
her mentor, the late Chet Atkins, performed as a very sensitive,
moving duet with Tommy Emmanuel, who earlier plays an emotional,
high-energy rendition of Mason Williams' "Classical Gas."
Anderson also treats the audience to her original piece, "Angelina
Baker," in which she simulates an entire bluegrass band
on guitar.
Other outstanding
performances include Buster B. Jones and Thom Bresh playing a
hot rendition of "Cannonball Rag," "Flying Home"
by the marvelous Stanley Jordan, a beautiful version of "Strawberry
Fields Forever" done by Laurence Juber, and so on. In addition
to the solo guitar performances, there's a nice blues jam involving
many of the all-stars. All in all, this is a great DVD to pick
up and enjoy over and over again, and Muriel Anderson is to be
applauded for bringing such a wonderful cast of virtuosos together
during a period of contemporary music when you often have to
look long and very hard to find something truly worth hearing.
Highly recommended. Five stars!
- Mark
Stefani
To order "All-Star
Guitar Night"
just click
here or on the
graphics above. You can also phone Homespun Tapes at 1-800-338-2737.