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Friday, June 5, 2009

Review: Lawrence Blatt - The Color Of Sunshine


Lawrence Blatt - The Color Of Sunshine
2009, LMB Music


Acoustic guitarist extraordinaire Lawrence Blatt returns with his latest CD, The Color Of Sunshine, the follow-up to last year's Fibonacci's Dream. Blatt teams up again with Producer and Windham Hill founder William Ackerman, whose other production credits include George Winston, Liz Story, Fiona Joy Hawkins, John Gorka and Patty Larkin. The Color Of Sunshine again finds Blatt exploring the lyric and finger-picking guitar styles that have already garnered him multiple awards and accolades in his short career.

The Color Of Sunshine is a collection of fourteen original compositions by Blatt that's very much in the same vein as Fibonacci’s Dream. With a mix of finger-pick and lyric guitar styles Blatt lays down with a distinctive brush under the guiding hand of William Ackerman. Fans of Ackerman and Michael Hedges will find a lot to like here. The highlights of the album come when Blatt's guitar hooks up with the violin. Blatt seems to respond very well to this pairing, finding a chemistry between the two instruments than can be most difficult to achieve. Jaune (Yellow) is a prime example. Blatt's guitar play is plaintive and subdued until the violin kicks in and brings the guitar to vibrant life. Likewise Mars Azul, which combines Spanish style guitar with violin for a chilling effect. InfraRed - The Abyss shows William Ackerman's influence all over it. Blatt even throws listeners a Country/Americana curve on Black Rock Beach. Other highlights include Gray Salt Marsh, White Light and The Color Of Sunshine.

Lawrence Blatt is among the best of a new generation of Classical/Easy Listening guitar plays. Barring some unforeseen circumstance he is likely to be making influential instrumental music for some time to come. The Color Of Sunshine is uplifting and well crafted; make sure you check it out!

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Lawrence Blatt at http://www.lawrenceblatt.com/. You can purchase a copy of The Color Of Sunshine at www.cdbaby.com/cd/lawrenceblatt3, or download it through iTunes.

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