Blues Review: Sunnyland Review

Guitar wizard Ed Gerhard turns his attention to the blues on Sunnyland (Solid Air 2057), a fine collection of instrumentals with the warm, relaxed feel of a late summer evening. Gerhard coaxes a mellow tone from his instruments (mainly Martins), fingerpicking and sliding his way through a few spirituals, including “Amazing Grace” and “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” and a raft of his own compositions that nod to originators Tampa Red, John Hurt, and Blind Willie Me Tell, and revivalists Dave Van Ronk and Jorma Kaukonen. “Sunday Blues” features serpentine slide, “Sunnyland” a sprightly Southern melody; the sole contemporary-sounding piece, “Still Not Sorry You’re Gone,” has the feel, if not the form, of the blues. Fans of acoustic music will appreciate these subtly masterful, heartfelt performances.