Leo Kottke (Private Music 82171: One Guitar, No Vocals

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: April 1, 2000

A Long Way From Takoma. 6- and 12-String Guitar was the auspicious debut of guitarmeister Leo Kottke. On the heels of John Fahey, Peter Lange, and Stefan Grossman, Kottke created his debut masterpiece of acoustic wizardry that served as a template for countless acoustic guitarists after him. In the 25 years between the release of 6- and 12-String Guitar and his current project One Guitar, No Vocals, Kottke has come full circle. His current offering contains originals and several Kottke interpretations of film music from Allen Sharpe movies. Be it upbeat finger picking (“Snorkel”), the moody meandering (“Chamber of Commerce”), or the jazz voices (“Peckerwood”) Kottke never ceases to amaze this listener.

This disc will satisfy all that have longed for Kottke to leave the realm of electronics, singing, and sidemen and produce the same music he started with, that music of exquisite sonic purity and crystalline conception. Kottke makes his statement with both power and grace, a shouting whisper of talent unchained.

Track Listing: Snorkel; Morning Is The Long Way Home; Too Fast; Three/Quarter North; Retrograde; Chamber of Commerce; From

Personnel: Leo Kottke: Guitar

Record Label: Windham Hill Records
Style: Fringes of Jazz