Album Review
Georgian guitarist Kyle Dawkins drew inspiration from southern Appalachia for his first solo album, Conasauga. Released on the Solponticello label, whose catalog ranges from free jazz to soft country-rock, the album is lushly produced, highly focused, and typically (for this label) short at 37 minutes. Dawkins is a virtuoso of the classical guitar. His playing has the clarity and audacity of Andrés Segovia, the expressiveness of Chet Atkins, the dreaminess of Gordon Giltrap. The title track, "Sticks," and "Left, in a Room" are all wonderful pieces. His banjo playing, featured in "Kite" and "The Crow," requires a little more getting used to, mainly because he approaches the instrument like a guitar. For "A Quiet Strand" he is joined by Brian Smith on banjo, and "Flight" features the whole Georgia Guitar Quartet (Smith, Phil Snyder, and Jason Solomon). The latter piece alternates quiet muted sections and exuberant flamenco-like passages to great effect. An unannounced ninth piece closes the album as it began, with Dawkins playing solo. Fans of solo guitar recordings will be delighted by this young musician. He allies dexterity, invention, and soul. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide
