Muriel Anderson has traveled an adventurous road in her musical career. While best known for her signature sound on a Paul McGill classical, Anderson plays steel string as well as harp guitars with equal aplomb. She is at home pickin' like Chet Atkins, grooving on an American rag, or capturing the sound of Japanese Koto. So it should come as no surprise that Anderson -- an instrumental wizard to this point -- should take yet another fork, this time into the realm of vocals on her latest offering, "Wildcat." It's a CD chock full of fine supporting players like guitarists Duane Eddy and Stanley Jordan, fiddler Stuart Duncan, and cellist Julie Adams. "Wildcat" features only 4 true instrumentals - "Bells for Marcel," an eloquent tribute to the late, great Marcel Dadi; "Velzoe's Garden" plucked tenderly on the harp guitar; "Lady Pamela," also on harp guitar in tandem with Stuart Duncan's tasteful fiddling; and "Owl's Psalm," inspired by the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. The other pieces on the record reveal Anderson's vocal stylings, a sweet, whispery sound. Though her voice doesn't carry the range of her guitar playing, it works pretty well in these songs. She's a fine crafter of melodies, and that strength is highlighted in these vocal tunes. We get a taste of Brasil in "Rio de Janeiro," helped by the percussion work of Tom Roady. The sweet "St. Louis Waltz" speaks of home, while "The Sparrow" uses Muriel's favorite image -- nature -- as a mirror for questions burning in her heart. Those who like Muriel Anderson's guitar playing will be pleased with the addition of her voice -- she's now singing two ways in her music.

Playing Time – 42:47 -- With twelve bright and breezy original compositions, guitarist/vocalist Muriel Anderson demonstrates a particular fondness for natural settings, species, and events. There are jazzy songs inspired by a flower garden, beach, sparrow, owl, wildcat, and even an earthquake. Using nylon, steel-string, and harp guitar, she and her expert accompanists play with lyrical spirit. With a nicely crisp, clean sound, Muriel demonstrates great musicianship, ample energy, and plenty of personality. There are spare settings with just harp-guitar (“Velzoe’s Garden”) or just harp-guitar and voice with Julie Adams’ cello (“Castles in the Sand”). In other arrangements, there are full ensembles (“Wildcat”) and assistance of the five members of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra (“I’ll Never Sing Another Song”). The featured guest artists include Duane Eddy, Stanley Jordan, Mark Kibble, Danny Gottlieb, Nicki Parrott, and Nashville Chamber Orchestra string section. “Sparrow,” “Owl’s Psalm,” and “Wildcat” are just three examples of her extraordinary contemporary compositions that epitomize the freedom of a bird in flight, an expressive melody in the woods, or the secretive nature of a feline in search of food. “Lady Pamela” invokes a Celtic flavoring akin to a planxty written in the seventeenth century. Copius liner notes relate Muriel’s stories for each tune. Well done to Muriel Anderson for a thoroughly-engaging and tastefully-rendered project! (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

This CD is totally engrossing and I find nothing about which to complain. Each tune is masterfully written, performed and recorded. Beyond that, each tune leads very well into the next. There's a wonderful flow to the entire project making this work rather habit forming. Muriel has been for a long time a true guitar master, and now we find that she can also sing! Excellent writing, excellent playing, great singing, and truely remarkable production work. Perfectly tasteful. I wish I had done it!