MARK CASSTEVENS: Acoustic Inventions

Mark Casstevens

Acoustic Inventions

© 2004 J.M.Casstevens Music (634479208379)

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Fresh melodic fingerstyle acoustic guitar instrumentals--mostly nylon string guitar-- with shades of Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins

notes

Fingerstyle guitar at its most musical !

Multi-instrumentalist Mark Casstevens is featured on nylon and steel string guitars, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, bass and keyboard. ACOUSTIC INVENTIONS includes the ragtime feel of "Sour Mash Rag" and "Old Mother Hubbard"--the melodic tunes "Claire" and "Tracy"--the jazzy bluegrass of "Cowtown" to the instrumental suite "Katrin's Dream."

In the thirteen original tracks, don't look for any New Age meandering. What you do have is plenty of straight-up, get-down guitar picking that all acoustic fans are sure to enjoy.

reviews

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  • author: francois mottet

    I want to thank Mark for gracefully including the "Swing low" TAB as a bonus with my order. I merged the arrg't with Rick Foster's one (Fingerstyle guitar magazine #65) and it has become one of my favorites. Actually Mark and Rick worked the arrg't together in the early 80's Thanks again Mark for your wonderful CD!

  • author: Acoustic Guitar

    Longtime session ace and Nashville mainstay Mark Casstevens’s new solo CD sits right at the intersection of fingerstyle chops and pop sensibilities—no surprise given that his brief liner notes cite his twin sources of inspiration as his peers in the Music City studio scene and the Chet Atkins/Jerry Reed axis. The result is an instrumental record that plays as a collection of great songs, yet grabs your guitar-playing ear from the first note and never lets go. True to the Chet/Jerry school, Casstevens mainly features his nylon-string guitar, accompanied by his own overdubbed bass parts, light percussion, the occasional hi-hat or kick drum, and a few guest turns on fiddle and accordion. The deft arrangements serve Casstevens’s writing well while remaining transparent enough to let his confident, relaxed fingerstyle arrangements shine through. “Sour Mash Rag,” “Gladrags,” “Old Mother Hubbard,” and the steel-string “All Thumbs” come across as virtually solo tunes—ragtime as imagined through a relaxed, Atkinsesque filter. On the bluesier “Okefenokee Blues” and “Underground Railroad,” Casstevens lets out more of his award-winning multi-instrumental side, laying down tasty harmonica, slide, and resophonic guitar. Yet even then, the nylon-string soon comes roaring back, doing the kind of funky things that make guitar players (and even regular people) grin and reach for the replay button. Casstevens wrote all the tunes except for “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”; his low-down, witty take on the classic spiritual finds room for nylon-string chord substitutions and walking-bass moves, a clawhammer banjo breakdown, and a perfectly justifiable Stevie Wonder quote all within three minutes and ten seconds

  • author: Minor 7th Webzine

    You’ve heard his work -- many, many times. And you’ve enjoyed his behind-the-scenes' playing, even if you didn’t know who it was. But quintessential Nashville session artist Mark Casstevens now allows a few photons of the spotlight to shine his way with his solo collection, "Acoustic Inventions". Casstevens’ credits include playing on 98 singles that have hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts, accompanying more than 250 different artists along the way. This 13-track disc shows why this multi-instrumentalist fingerstyle marvel is in such demand. A summer-breeze warm tone and gossamer touch bring his compositions to life. But while adept on nylon and steel string guitars, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, bass and keyboard, his work on nylon string stands out. "Claire" and "Tracy" are lovely melodies, and "Gladrags" quietly wraps itself around your ears. Casstevens adds a few session pals of his own to flesh out the tracks, and they rightly take a low-key supporting role. If Casstevens can be faulted, it is his enthusiasm to display too much of his considerable talent, as with his arrangement of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", in which he takes up guitar, bass, harmonica and banjo, perhaps to the detriment of the soul of the tune. Generally, however, he leaves us wanting more, not less, especially of that sweet guitar work. Casstevens thoughtfully offers some of his arrangements in tab form through his website.

  • Great artistry. A master player and composer.
    author: john hitt

    This CD should be in every serious muscians library.

  • Fingerstyle and virtuosity at its best.
    author: bobby f

    Fingerstyle guitar and guitar in general does not get any better than this. Nashville and years of hard work have produced a true master of fingerstyle guitar. This is a guitar player's guitar instrumental cd.

  • Fingerpicking is alive and well
    author: Ken

    Fingerpicking the way it should be. The kind of feel good music that reaches deep down in your soul. Do you like Chet, Jerry, Thom, Buster B? Get this CD, I promise you won't be disappointed.

  • For Fingerpickers Who Appreciate the Subtleties of A Pro
    author: michael - Sydney, Australia

    It takes a great picker to make it sound like you are having fun- on CD- when you can't see them playing.This sounds fun when you hear it and any finger style player would like it and try to be more like him as a player

  • Great CD, impressive player.
    author: Willem Niewold (The Netherlands)

    As a fingerstylist I know how hard it is to make things sound easy, while playing melody and bass at the same time. Mark makes it sound like sunday morning. A lot of musical headroom above mastering the guitar. A happy go lucky cd. Compliments.

  • Truly great talent on a great CD
    author: Paul Brehm

    Truly great talent on a great CD. The music is phenomenal. A good variety of Nashville music. A must for every fingerstyle guitar player.

  • author: Jim Wallace

    John Standefer told me to get this CD. It is just great! A must have for fingerstyle players. Thanks Mark...See you at the Chet thing!

  • Chet, Jerry, Buster, Thom all rolled into one! Most impressive instramentalist!
    author: Ian Tiffin

    An outstanding collection of fingerstyle compositions! Whether you play or just enjoy, each track leaves you wanting more. Multi-talented master of so many instruments confirms why this session player is held in such high regard. Add this to your collection, with all of your other "gold records"!

  • Masterful! A skillful musician and craftsman.
    author: Joseph W. Neely Reynolds

    This is a toe-tapping CD that will make you happy every time you listen to the outstanding guitar picking of Mark Casstevens. Buy this CD, it is a must have for any acoustic guitar enthusiast.

  • Masterful! A skillful musician and craftsman.
    author: Joseph W. Neely Reynolds

    This is a toe-tapping CD that will make you happy every time you listen to the outstanding guitar picking of Mark Casstevens. Buy this CD, it is a must have for any acoustic guitar enthusiast.

  • Great guitar playing and compositions
    author: Mike Swan

    This is just about the perfect combination playing skill, composing and taste. The musical sensibility is just my cup of tea. Just what I'd expect from one of the great session players.

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