Acoustic guitar music, what do you recommend?

I really like the CD "O" by Damien Rice. Genre would be folk/rock I guess. It's not all acoustic guitar, but there is a fair share on that disc. You might want to give a few of the songs a listen on Youtube (assuming they are there) to see if you like it before buying the CD.

Try Jesse Cook. I recommend Nomad as his best. His genre is Nuevo-flamenco or what Cook calls "rumba ditties."

Look for an album of Andrés Segovia which has Leyenda (a/k/a Asturias) on it from the '50's. That single cut gets my vote as one of the most masterful performances in recording history, certainly of guitar masterpieces. Many have tried, but none have come close to matching his artistry on this standard classical piece, which he originally transcribed from the piano.

Another wonderful current acoustic guitarist but little known is Maria Zemantauski who plays a variety of classical, modern and Spanish pieces.

From a genre miles away, Robert Johnson, one of the early blues guitarists set a standard perhaps not yet equalled or exceeded. There's not much there but what is is amazing.

I highly recommend Guitar Noir by Laurence Juber on AIX records (DVD-audio).

Tommy Emmanuel is the best acoustic guitar player I have ever seen overall......mind blowing. Check out his DVDs which are not the best quality, but the performances are truly amazing IMO.

I'm not into the genre, per se, but this on Blu-ray blew me away:

http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Matthews-...2386524&sr=1-1

I second these.

Atahualpa Yupanqui is a giant, classic, who is worth checking out though not known much as he should be in the US anyway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDsXiCNIzqE

Eliades Ochoa, from the Buena Vista Social Club is fun too.

And I wish the recording were better, but Rodrigo Y Gabriela (self-titled 2006) is really cool. Stairway to Heaven, Metallica covered really well on acoustic guitar, it's pretty kick-ass, I heard it a lot on the radio locally. Really cool music though!

Incredibly, I remember my father playing this repeatedly (on vinyl, obviously) when I was a kid. I could hear it all over the house. The term "masterful" doesn't even begin to describe this album. I was only 12 years old at the time when I heard the album and I was in astonishment. And this was on a horrible record player with an "integrated" single speaker in the cabinet. I can't even imagine what it would sound like on a up-to-date stereo system.

Segovia was a master, there's no doubt about that. Just about any GOOD recording of anything he's done should be at the top of any guitar enthusiast's list.


I would also recommend "Acoustic Alchemy", which is somewhat different, but enjoyable. What I've heard I've liked. I think one of my favorite albums was called "Back on the Case" from the early 90s.

LAGQ [Los Angeles guitar quartet] they have 2 albums on SACD,
and then of course the 3 giants: Paco De Lucia, John Mc Lauglin , and Al Di Meola the later who is just as much a master on electric guitar. Check em out on the live album called "Friday Night In San Francisco" available on both CD and SACD.

+1 for "Friday Night In San Francisco." John McLaughlin of Mahavishnu Orchestra fame is also a great electric player. Paco De Lucia is considered the best flamenco player and any of his albums are worth checking out.

+1000. I've got three of his DVDs. The best one, recorded in HD, is _Center Stage_. I'm pretty picky about AQ and this is well recorded. If you don't know him, you will be asking yourself why you've never heard of this guy...

Pierre Bensusan, Don Ross, Phill Keaggy are some more guitarists to check out. Unfortunately, they haven't yet been captured with the video and audio quality they deserve.

Center Stage was definately the best quality I agree Why did they not release this on BR since it was recorded in HD? Like you, I could not believe I had never heard of him when I first heard him. Sign of the musical times unfortunately

For sheer technical skill, it's hard to beat Frank Vignola, who specializes in gypsy jazz. He has several DVDs and CDs available.

For some real jazz guitar, I always first reach for "Joe Pass and Herb Ellis: Seven Come Eleven". Available on CD and SACD, the SACD has some serious audio quality.

More acoustic guitar CDs to check out:

Michael Hedges (Aerial Boundaries is a must-have for any modern acoustic guitar collection)
Ralph Towner (Solo Concert, Ana, Anthem)
Pierre Bensusan (Solilai, Pres De Paris, Intuite, Altiplanos)
Tracy Moore (Collection -www.tracymoore.com - gorgeous 12 string)
Strunz and Farah (Mosaico, Frontera)
Egberto Gismonti (Danca Das Cabecas)
Alex De Grassi (The Water Garden, Southern Exposure)
Phil Keaggy (Beyond Nature, Acoustic Sketches)
Tommy Emmanuel (The Mystery)
Don Ross (Live in your head, Robot Monster)
Steve Erquiaga (Cafe Paradiso)
Pat Metheny (New Chataqua, One Quiet Night)

Acoustic Alchemey is a great acoustic guitar band - several CD's
Peter White - although he plays electric as well

Where is a good place to get SACDs? I only have a couple, but love both of them...........AQ is better on these than probably anything I have listened to. I would like to check out the one you mention here.

Check out John Fahey, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch and Steffen Grossman.

1) John Fahey - Return of the Repressed
2) Renbourn & Grossman - Snap a Little Owl, Three Kingdoms
3) Renbourn & Bert Jansch - After the Dance

Amazon has anything that's still available, and some that are rare. eBay for everything else.

http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Come-Ele...2553679&sr=8-1

Cool Thanks.

For classical guitar it's hard to go wrong with anything by Liona Boyd.

Al DiMeola is pretty highly skilled with an acoustical guitar. Can be seen on the latest Return to Forever Live at Montreux (DVD and Blu-Ray)

Not being a guitar player, I can't speak to the technical side, but I love listening to John Fahey. Many have called him one of the fathers of acoustic solo guitar. Maybe so, maybe not, but his influence cannot be denied - His early work from the 1960s is a good place to start. I was thrilled to recently discover his "Live in Tasmania" CD from 1980. It's a wonderful piece of work and highlights his genius at improvisation on a six-string guitar.

Another CD that gets a lot of playing time for me is Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters, various artists.

I too "discovered" Tommy Emmanuel via the Internet altho I never heard of him before. Amazing is what comes to mind.

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The 1st video your jaw will drop, the 2nd one you'll have to pick it up off the floor.

Check out Scott Huckabay:

http://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Scott-...2641297&sr=1-1

While not every track is 100% acoustic, it's amazing music.

I second Dave Matthews live at radio city...blue ray if you have a player.
It's a must have for anyone likes guitar and appreciates talent. Only a handful of artists can sound better live than in the studio. Dave is one of them imho.

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I'm sure its not quite what youre wanting but I cant help it as it's one of my current favorite tunes..

"Slow Circle" is his masterpiece - but it's really hard to find and expensive. I think there are some used available from Amazon.

In fact, that would be my #1 recommendation for the OP.

My personal favorite is the 2 disc Blu-Ray Concert: Jewel-The Essential Live Songbook. I think she is a pretty good acoustic player. She plays a couple of very nice Taylor guitars. Both discs start off with just her playing her guitar and singing. Then disc one has her playing with her band backing her up and disc two has her singing with an Orchestra. I think her disc two acoustic performances are the best of the two discs. I guess you have to have the taste for her music. I happen to be in love with her. I think she is all at once cute, sexy, sweet, and adorable. The way she tells her little stories in between some of the songs just melts me. If you are a fan of her music this is one fantastic sounding and looking set!

The wife & I just saw Jewel live here in Charlotte on that acoustic tour a couple of months ago. Nobody but her on stage, along with her incredible talent. And, uh, she's pretty easy on the eyes, too - nice curves where the curves oughta' be. Another nice thing was that there was no prohibition on cameras this time. I've got several stills and movie clips, including that amazing yodeling thing she does to close each performance. It's just plain hard not to fall in love with that woman.