Joe Gavin: Buy

"Summit of Leaves" Acoustic guitar artworks-truly captivating fingerstyle music that awes the ears, transports the mind, and touches the soul. Unforgettable!

A quote from the liner notes... "All of man's creations, as magnificent as they are, seem lacking when compared with nature. Entire libraries and museums of man's finest works cannot move the mind, nor stir the emotions more deeply than that which is said by a single tree. Though silent to us, the trees have their song. Perhaps they have an entire language, unheard by the ears of man. Perhaps they hear our words, and have observed man's folly and strife. They may speak of us often. Perhaps word has spread among the trees of a great assembly, a great convergence of the forest to discuss the state of man, a great....Summit of Leaves"

(An Acoustic Guitar Collection)
Over the Downs, from Summit of Leaves is featured on Woodsongs. Here's what one reviewer had to say...

Having considered all strings and past guitar compilations, it is exciting to hear this new CD that resets the standard for innovation in a time-honored tradition. While the guitar-o-meter may well need to be re-calibrated for ""Woodsongs,"" it is true there are many such collections over the years that connect on technical and style levels, but few if any that have ever been so engaging, personally affecting and emotionally versatile. Above all, the sound quality is beyond brilliant, which can be attributed to the mastering of Bob Ludwig, whose credits are a veritable who's who across all musical styles. 17 tracks by 17 different artists make for such a full program that it will take many listens to begin to digest the artistic expression and mastery that is on full display here. I was first taken by ""Quintana Roo,"" an unreleased track from Preston Reed who employs all aspects of his instrument, and ""Thank You"" by Adam Werner, who conceived the idea for this project. Later, I began really hearing the colorful, pastel beauty of ""Hand Signals,"" a brand new track from Alex DeGrassi, and ""After the Sunrise,"" a track by Robert Walling with female voices woven through the mix. Will Ackerman, who contributes the exquisite closing track, ""Last Day at the Beach,"" feels this surpasses the great Windham Hill Guitar samplers from the seminal period of that label (which he founded) & what previously epitomized this expression."