Stringed instrument wizards come in several varieties. There's the hotshot picker who enjoys finishing a lightning run just in the nick of time, and then there's the rounded player who concerns him or herself with composition and unity.
Steve Smith qualifies as the latter.
Smith specializes in lovely instrumentals that paint evocative moods. The quiet, gentle "Desert Night/Starlight Canyon" perfectly captures the solitude one might experience in the middle of nowhere on a clear, starry night. "The Queen Anne's Revenge," on the other hand, evokes the kind of high-seas adventures common in the golden age of pirates. While pirates and starlit nights may seem eons apart in mood, the 14 songs on the album flow together as a piece. The simple acoustic arrangements -- featuring
Smith,
Tom Espinola,
Ira Gitlin, and
Lorraine Duisit -- provide a unified backdrop to the compositions; the various combinations of mandolins, guitars, cellos, harps, and double basses keep the tunes fresh and inviting from track to track. Some reviewers might describe
Smith's work as new age, but this label seems too confining. The music on
Desert Night may be mellow, but careful attention is given to melody, providing each piece with a clear identity. Guitar lovers, or anyone who ever dreamed of recording his or her own instrumental album on a small budget, will enjoy this finely crafted album.