Steel String Americana

Paul Asbell's CD, Steel String Americana, finds the guitarist exploring beyond the normal boundary lines of the American folk tradition, where the musical 'no man's land' begins. Guitar Player Magazine summed it up thusly, "Solo acoustic guitarists tend to specialize in one genre, but Paul Asbell delights in exploring a spectrum of styles. With steady hands and a relaxed sense of swing, he tackles bouncy ragtime fingerpicking, crisp flatpicking, and lush, jazzy chording with equal aplomb.... Asbell - who began his career backing Otis Rush and Magic Sam in Chicago blues clubs - knows how to sneak passing chords and moving bass lines into his arrangements without obscuring the melody or cluttering the groove. Fretting a bevy of vintage Martins and boutique flat-tops, (he) reveals his mastery of dynamics, phrasing, and timbres on this impressive debut."