Saints

There are many adjectives that describe -- some of the ones that immediately come to mind include adventurous, experimental, fearless, and eclectic. But one adjective one won't hear in connection with is predictable. Capable of playing everything from to , the guitarist is one of music's more unpredictable figures. Released in 2001, is an outing that finds playing unaccompanied solo guitar. There are no drums or bass here -- it's just and his guitar, and the explorer successfully turns his attention to everything from ' and 's to the standard (which has been heard countless times in settings, but lends itself equally well to an makeover). also brings his distinctive guitar to the famous as well as two pieces by '60s firebrand : and the title song. Although 's playing is quite free, it's also quite musical. This isn't an album of chaos; the guitarist favors an inside/outside approach, and even though his improvisations are left-of-center, isn't as far to the left as an album by saxophonist (just to give one example) would be. That isn't to say that 's atonality isn't equally valid -- only that approaches in a very different way. is full of discernible melodies; typically, will warmly embrace a melody before he ventures outside. And that inside/outside contrast serves him well throughout this excellent and very unpredictable set. ~ Alex Henderson