Finger Pickin’ Good Edition: Matt Sowell & Glenn Jones
By Aaron Stein Mar 23, 2016 • 10:51 am PDT
Matt Sowell: North Winds Callin’
If you’re obsessed with high-quality, instrumental acoustic guitar music like I am, you’ve got much to be excited about in this week’s set of recs, cause I’ve got a couple keepers. First up is Matt Sowell out of Minneapolis, whose new album, North Winds Callin’ sounds like the collision of two worlds: old style Americana folk and rag music and Indian raga. Each track is beautiful and deeply hypnotic. Sometimes you have to see a guitarist like this live to see the intricacies of each finger on the guitar, but with Sowell, his deft work shines right through in sometimes dizzying fashion. Enjoy!
Glenn Jones: Fleeting
As far as this style is concerned, Glenn Jones is certainly a master near its peak and the recently released Fleeting is, in my opinion, a clear example of a guitar genius at work. With gorgeous melodies, heroic fingering and his unique tunings, Jones still manages to tell an engaging story with each piece. Out on Thrill Jockey, the album was recorded in a house in New Jersey and has the lived-in feel of a family history, generations of tales told throughout the years. One quick ditty features Jones on banjo as a beautiful counterpoint. Joyous, angry, pensive, hopeful… Fleeting hits at a range of emotions. Highly recommended!
