Album Notes

I am so excited to announce a new name (and, "certified Chet nut") to us fans in the Chet "circle" - Mark Hill. He's from out in the Maritimes of Canada and one heck of a picker. His dad taught him how to play Chet tunes at an early age and even though he progressed through heavy classical and jazz studies, he never forgot his love for the thumb pickin' stuff that his dad left in his head.

In fact, after years of professionally playing jazz, flamenco, and blues with a fairly successful band he formed with his brother (The Hill Brothers), it was his dad that recommended that he might drop back and record some of his Chet music - which in fact he did: "Mark Hill - Picks on Chet" This album is chuck full of extremely well played old Chet and Jerry Reed tunes played on an old early 1960's Anniversary Model Gretsch guitar. Mark brilliantly migrates each tune from the thumb picking melody right into some exquisite jazz lines - returning each tune to it's roots.

This man is not trying to be the "next Chet Atkins" or the "next Jerry Reed" and freely admits that mastering fellow Canadian Lenny Breau arrangements is rather formidable. What he did do, however, is record a wonderful tribute to the man that so inspired his dad those many years ago, and our Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club hero - Chet Atkins. Done with taste and simplicity - and, laced with jazz interludes that make this CD a true listening pleasure. (This CD is looking for many car CD players to live in... (lol)

Selections from "Mark Hill - Picks on Chet" includes: Bye Bye Blues, Early Times, Hello Bluebird, Oh, By Jingo, Perdido (my fav), Back Home in Indiana, and, Jerry's Breakdown done with a middle to die for... Fifteen tunes in all...