Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Danny Gatton is a guitar legend. This collection features a few really nice gems. Nona re really surf related, but the again, a few could be worked into a surf set without too much trouble.

Picks: Honeysuckle Rose, Harlem Nocturne, After Hours, Sax Fifth Avenue, Canadian Sunset, Lappin' It Up, Natcha Blues, Funky Mama, Elmira St. Boogie, Blues Newberg, Quiet Village, Dally's Ditty, One For Lenny, Fun House, So Good, Cruisin' Dance, Broadway, Gearheads, Kindred Spirits, Poinciana, Red Label, Gold Rush, Busboy, Linus and Lucy / Orange Blossom Special medley

Forties Jive (Instrumental)

"Honeysuckle Rose" is a bouncing jammin' track with the feel of the forties or maybe Les Paul fifties. Fun, but unremarkable.

Blues (Instrumental)

Earl Hagen's insanely cool "Harlem Nocturne" is softly flowing beneath Danny Gatton's hot electric lead. Groovy and bluesy, yet suave.

Blues (Instrumental)

This is a slow blues with great tinkling ivories and an oh-so sinewy walking bass line. Quite nice.

Blues (Instrumental)

This is a lofty soft summer night blues guitar piece with a silky electric sound. Quite a nice track.

Pop (Instrumental)

This silky song was a hit for Hugo Winterhalter in the fifties. Danny Gatton retains the silkiness without giving up his electric credentials. The guitar work is delicately cool, and is backed by a distant sweet steel and soft rhythm section. Very pretty!

Country Blues (Instrumental)

As you might guess, "Lappin' It Up" is lap steel based. It's a blues groove in a jammy setting.

Blues (Instrumental)

Heavily echoed blues in the "I'm A Man groove," with a slow undulating backtrack. very well played, yet not really memorable.

Blues (Instrumental)

This is a pedestrian blues jam with a heavy thump and pleasant hook. Just so-so.

Guitar Boogie (Instrumental)

"Elmira St. Boogie" is a heavy duty guitar boogie shuffle with charm and guts. Edgy, pumped up, and rockin'.

Blues (Instrumental)

This is a slow and loud blues meander with an almost "Harlem Nocturne"-ish melody line. Solid and intense.

Country Exotica (Instrumental)

This is a refreshingly original arrangement of Martin Denny's ultra cool "Quiet Village." Country, blues, and exotica commingle in this island silky groove. This would easily fit in a surf set for a slight left turn. Way cool.

Swing (Instrumental)

Horns and jazzy guitar in a swing setting. "Dally's Ditty" is all about the fast noodle a la Les Paul or Chet Atkins. A jam.

Swing (Instrumental)

Fifties horn harmonies and bluesy jazz underpinnings, round guitar, and a sense of cool. More or less ho-hum.

Funk (Instrumental)

Cowboy funk, chicken bump, slightly tweaky, and horns. Fun, but forgettable.

Blues (Instrumental)

Blues jivin' jammin' late night session stuff. "So Good" is pumpin' with energy, but lacks direction.

Blues (Instrumental)

This is a kind of infectious riff jam with a cool character. Fun and spunky, with a tasty guitar lead.

Blues (Instrumental)

A jammin' walking bass organ guitar workout. Show off noodling and a swingin' groove.

Blues (Instrumental)

This is a fast guitar and organ blues jam with a Jimmy Smith feel. Just happy.

Blues (Instrumental)

This is an atmospheric blues groove with a jazzy edge and sinewy sound. This is a very attractive sounding song with a soulful flow. Not particularly melodic, but really nice just the same.

Island (Instrumental)

Quiet exotic percussion and jazzy guitar licks flow in an island vein, with liquid air and a bouncy beat. Quite a nice track.

Country Blues (Instrumental)

This is a semi soulful track with horns and a saucy riff. Kinda fun, but it seems contrived.

Blues Rock (Instrumental)

This electric blues rock number is darn cool. Solid drums and bass, and an atmospherically echoed guitar create a sense of loudness and delicacy. A fine track.

Blues (Instrumental)

"Busboy" is more or less a basic blues jam. Gentle and fluid, but unremarkable.

Rock (Instrumental)

Heavily effected guitar plays a really cool "Linus and Lucy" over really good drums and bass in a more or less rock format. Rock solid, though jammy at times. Borrowed lines of all sorts enhance the rockin' medley of hit guitar lines, including the Virtues' "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" and "The Walk," plus a really tweaky "Baby Elephant Walk." Quite fun!