Customer Reviews

Shake That Thing: Fingerpicking Country Blues

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Stefan Grossman is one of a handful of contemporary acoustic blues guitarists that I consistently enjoy. He knows this music inside and out, and he does all of the little things right (e.g., getting just the right vibrato, phrasing, or articulation). Unlike all but a few of his peers, he really seems to think about the tone and sound of the guitar.

Grossman certainly makes little effort to dazzle the listener with explosive fingerwork. I can listen to these tracks over and over again, marvelling at how many ways he can change the feel of a song by varying the pulse, or how many sounds he can get out of the bass. Do keep in mind that this is a "How to..." CD. This recording is designed to demonstrate a variety of country blues guitar styles, and all of the tracks are geared to the intermediate fingerstyle player. His other 1990s solo CD's are more technically challenging. The pleasures of this recording are subtle, but if you listen to this type of music a lot (as I have, for more years than I care to count), you will probably appreciate this CD. Right now I'm comparing it to a recent solo acoustic guitar CD by Kenny Sultan, who sounds superficial and cliched in comparison.

Also, Grossman sings on a few tracks. His singing is natural and easy to listen to. He hasn't sung on most of his recordings for the last 20 years or so. He really should sing more often. Hopefully he'll record again soon - this is a 1998 recording.

This is my favourite Stefan Grossman CD. Because you're reading this review you probably already know, but Stefan Grossman is one of the most significant folk, blues and ragtime guitar educators in the history of the instrument, publishing many instructional books, videos and DVDs. Only Happy Traum can rival him in fingerpicking instruction, but Traum must take second prize when it comes to blues. But, in addition to being a great teacher of this material that he clearly loves deeply and truly, Stefan Grossman is a wonderfully tasteful guitarist in his own right. This record has him stretching out around themes that he has been playing since the 60s and showing what improvisational beauty can come from the acoustic blues guitar in the hands of one who has played it for forty years. He also sings on some songs and this gives the CD an added charm. There is one man with one guitar here and if you like fingerpicking folk music, this album will bring you a lot of pleasure. It's been doing so for me since it was released. Highly recommended.