Rich Cohen, who has a few blues oriented albums, tries out a variety of acoustic guitar styles, mixing folk, jazz, new age, and world influences. Most tracks are guitar only. The exceptions are: #2 & #13 have singing by Cohen; #6 has a saxophone; #11 percussion; # 13 piano by Cohen. All pieces are composed by Cohen except # 6 and #12.

No FCC issues. Be Sharp’s Picks: 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12 (all for different reasons)

1. ** Strong Indian influence. Suggests a raga on sitar. Several guitars overdubbed. (7:21)
2. * Fast showy guitar. Breathy Brazilian-ish vox. Recommended for a world-music program. (3:12)
3. Done on a classical guitar perhaps. Showy & virtuosic, but not particularly moving. (3:18)
4. Genre defying. Slowish, calming, gentle, pretty. Evokes a foggy morning. (4:34)
5. * Jazzy hollow-body lead runs set atop a galloping rhythm. RIYL jazz & folk rock. (4:22)
6. Famous Jazz standard done by a friend on sax. Cohen plays the chords. (5:34)
7. Much like #4. Lyrical & pretty guitar exploration. A wee bit Spanish. (5:03)
8. ** Now this is interesting! Lots of different tones & textures overlaid. There’s a vague accordion sound perhaps made by sympathetic drone strings. A keeper for sure. (4:03)
9. Another tone-poem thing (like 4&7); this one using harmonic overtone technique. (2:33)
10. * Slow and romantic. Definitely Spanish. Quite lovely. (3:21)
11. ** Brazilian again. A song w accompaniment whereas #2 is a guitar show w voice. (3:20)
12. * A very nice interpretation on guitar of “Elm” by jazz pianist Richie Beirach (4:48)
13. Here’s Cohen on piano with a form-less, new-Age improvisation. It’s just ok. (2:48)