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Editorial Reviews
Review
A surprise blues and rag album comes from Tim Sparks. Sidewalk Blues is a collection of country-blues, early jazz, and ragtime classics, all played with Sparks typical virtuoso approach to solo fingerstyle guitar. Having recently explored everything from classical to Balkan to traditional Jewish music, Sidewalk Blues finds Sparks returning to his roots, yet bits of his explorations of other styles shine through in a way that gives each of the arrangements a refreshing touch. --Teja Gerken Acoustic Guitar Magazine
Review
Recorded over the last several years in various locations, Tim Sparks Sidewalk Blues is a fingerpicking homage to early 20th Century American Roots music. Sparks is a guitarist s guitarist, an innovator and student of many styles of music. Among those styles are American roots music, European and Mediterranean folk music, and classical. Sidewalk Blues is a return to Sparks s own roots and the music that initially inspired him. A meticulous arranger and consummate performer, Sparks plows, punctuates, and pulses his way through a well-chosen batch of ragtime, jazz, country blues, and gospel with an individual flair and spirit to burn. One of the nice things about the album is the lack of aural homogeneity. The guitars often sound very different on different tracks, almost as if you re listening to a compilation of incredible guitarists. No doubt this is due to the nature of the way the album was recorded, as mentioned above, but Sparks also utilizes a variety of guitars on the album. About half the tracks were cut on a Podium Custom Collings OM style Country Cutaway. Several tracks were recorded on a 1917 Gibson L-3. Also played were a Hoffman Custom OM Style Cutaway and a Lakewood Custom Concert Cutaway. Simply stated, Sparks is a master of the instrument. His arrangements and performances of Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, and Bix Beiderbecke compositions are flawless, at times playful, and always soulful. As stated in the liner notes, these seventeen tracks evoke the sounds, sights, and smells of New Orleans sportin houses, Harlem speakeasies... and a world of tobacco fields, fire-breathing itinerant preachers, moonshine on Saturday night, and rapturous Gospel singing on Sunday morning. A must have for fans of Tim Sparks and for anyone who loves fingerstyle guitar playing. © Chip O'Brien --The Minor 7th
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Master guitarist tackles the blues,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sidewalk Blues (Audio CD)
I knew of Sparks by reputation as a masterful finger picking stylist who explored many genres on his previous recordings. Sidewalk Blues is a must have for fans of finger picking and blues guitar. Sparks' broad musical experience makes the album much more than your usual retro homage to blues guitar playing. He transcribes pieces like Louis Armstrongs' Potato Head Blues for solo guitar, and includes other adaptations of ragtime orchestral works. With his technically amazing playing and arrangements, the result is more like a Joe Pass recording than something you would find in the folk music rack at the record store (if there still were record stores). If you love excellent guitar playing, pick this up.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great music!,
This review is from: Sidewalk Blues (Audio CD)
If you like blues and if you like good old guitar music this is a CD collection for you. One of my favorites to play while I am driving. Highly recommended.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Returns to his roots, and great arrangements,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sidewalk Blues (Audio CD)
Although I appreciate the diversity of Tim Sparks musical corpus, I really love the traditional blues and jazz that he returns to on this CD. His arrangements are excellent and his technique spot-on, yet it's all very musical and not just "flashy" or "showy".
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