With The Surrealist Table, Ken Hatfield's fifth offering on Arthur Circle Music coming on the heels of 2002's Phoenix Rising, the talented guitarist-composer explores the warm-toned beauty and inherent contrapuntal nature of the classical guitar in the stripped down setting of guitar-bass-drums trio. And while Hatfield is indeed an accomplished fingerstyle player with a deft chordal approach and a fluid, formidable linear conception (i.e. plenty o' chops), it's his harmonically sophisticated compositional sense and strong penchant for melodicism, along with the overall vibe of his highly interactive trio featuring longtime collaborator Hans Glawischnig on bass and Jeff Hirshfield on drums, that makes this music so artistically successful and eminently appealing. From the urgently swinging opener "The Chimera" to the buoyant jazz waltz "A Demain," from the poignant minor key ballad "Iphigeneia" to the jaunty bounce of the title track, from the alluring bossa nova "Castalia" to the dark and delicate "Berceuse," the earthy blues of "Most Every Day," the odd-time workout "Ariadne's Thread" and the closing N'awlins flavored second line groover "Funkissimo," Hatfield and his crew of kindred spirits seamlessly weave harmony and melody, improvisation and swing with refined aplomb. Instrumental Guitar (Acoustic/Jazz), total running time, 55:17 - Ken Hatfield Trio @ iTunes!