Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Doc Watson - Good Deal! Doc Watson in Nashville


Rating: 5/5

Review:
Guitar brilliance



I have yet to hear a Doc Watson album which is anything short of brilliant, and this is well up to standard.  Here we have Doc playing some country/bluegrass with a group of Nashville's finest session musicians in 1968 – which means some of the finest musicians anywhere.  It's a pleasure from start to finish; there's a good mixture of instrumentals and songs (which find Doc in very good voice) and as always it's his breathtaking guitar work which stands out. 

Listening to this I'm either smiling or have my mouth hanging open in wonder at the sheer genius of his playing.  It's not just the breathtaking speed and dexterity (although that would be enough in itself) but he just makes those lightning licks sound so effortlessly joyful.  There's perfection in the rhythm and phrasing and just a simple delight throughout, somehow.  For me, country guitar doesn't come much better than this.

In short, this is an absolute gem of an album and very, very warmly recommended.

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