Album Notes

The group Pagano & Saslow is composed of Jimmy Pagano and Richard Saslow.

Their album PS1 is a unique blend of jazz and finger-style guitar, featuring dazzling technique combined with lyrical composition. It has been produced in a minimalist fashion to preserve the 'live' sound appreciated by acoustic music afficionados.

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An unsolicited testimonial:

The clarity of playing is incredible, kind of bell-like, sometimes almost a christmas feel, crisp and pure. Let's hear more!

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And also from the May/June 2002 issue of the folknik, Vol. XXXVIII, Number 3, a newsletter of the San Francisco Folk Music Club.

Jimmy Pagano & Richard Saslow
PS1
Acoustic Truth 1001CD
www.acousticTruth.com

Here's a new CD by two veterans of the acoustic guitar world. Both Jimmy Pagano and Richard Saslow were guitar heros of mine when I started playing way back in 19 mumbermumble. While neither of them pursued music as a main career, their styles and techniques continued to evolve. On this disk of guitar solos and duets, we find compositions by both of them -- as well as one tune by the legendary Steve Mann -- that evoke a variety of moods.

The unifying factor is musical taste. There is no showboating, just tasteful ideas perfectly executed. Five of the tracks feature both guitarists; often with one playing finger-style and the other flat-picking. There are solos by each of them, as well as "duets" accomplished by with one overdubbed on himself. The musical moods vary
from folkie to funky. The recording quality is first rate. The sound is acoustic rather than "unplugged", that is, it sounds like real guitars played by folks who know how to get the best sounds out of them.

While this CD makes lovely background music, closer attention proves rewarding as well. The players provide far more than the musical wallpaper for which Windham Hill became (in)famous. In short, this is a fine album by fine musicians. If you have any interest in fingerstyle
playing, you should defintely check it out!

Tony Marcus