Acoustic Sketches

One of contemporary Christian music's founding fathers, Phil Keaggy (remember Glass Harp, '60s music fans?) is also one of its finest musicians. Acoustic Sketches, which won the 1999 Dove Award for best instrumental album, is a testament to Keaggy's long-admired guitar playing. The 19 tracks here allow him to build flowery and intricate variations upon a theme; at times Keaggy's recording nearly shimmers with a magical sound. "Del's Bells" and the end tune, "Legacy," draw admitted comparisons to virtuoso Michael Hedges, while "Nellie's Tune," "Spanish Fantasy," and the moody "On Some Distant Shore" strongly evoke European images. Keaggy fans will also be pleased as he occasionally samples his voluminous body of recorded work, quoting riffs from past sessions. Guitar players of any genre will appreciate the deft skill displayed on Acoustic Sketches. --Michael Lyttle