He recently relocated to Nashville, but Steve Dawson remains a renaissance man within Canadian roots music. He has won seven Junos as a producer for the likes of Jenny Whiteley and Old Man Luedecke, is an acclaimed guitarist and songwriter himself and runs the Black Hen label.
His formidable skills as a guitarist take centre stage on this solo instrumental record. Recorded with a single vintage tube microphone, it captures the purity of Dawson's sound and sensibility. Some variety comes via his use of four different guitars: 6- and 12-string acoustics, National tricone, and a Weissenborn Hawaiian guitar. Dawson acknowledges he's inspired by the '60s "American Primitive" sound spearheaded by John Fahey and Leo Kottke, and their fans will find plenty to feast on here.
Elements of jazz, ragtime, blues, Hawaiian and folk are audible, but there's a consistent sonic thread throughout. Evocative tune titles include "The Flagpole Skater Laughs From Above" on this album, yet another notable notch in one impressive discography.
(Black Hen Music)His formidable skills as a guitarist take centre stage on this solo instrumental record. Recorded with a single vintage tube microphone, it captures the purity of Dawson's sound and sensibility. Some variety comes via his use of four different guitars: 6- and 12-string acoustics, National tricone, and a Weissenborn Hawaiian guitar. Dawson acknowledges he's inspired by the '60s "American Primitive" sound spearheaded by John Fahey and Leo Kottke, and their fans will find plenty to feast on here.
Elements of jazz, ragtime, blues, Hawaiian and folk are audible, but there's a consistent sonic thread throughout. Evocative tune titles include "The Flagpole Skater Laughs From Above" on this album, yet another notable notch in one impressive discography.