Tony McManus: The Maker’s Mark (The Dream Guitar Sessions)

Tony McManus
The Maker's Mark: The Dream Guitar Sessions
Compass
2008-12-08

The concept here makes intuitive sense. Pick a master acoustic guitar player, in this case Scottish master Tony McManus, and provide him with 15 of the finest handmade guitars currently produced. The result is a stunningly beautiful, contemplative record. McManus plays a different instrument on each song, save for the last track “Valse Des Belugas” in which he skillfully combines them all. Most of the cuts are Celtic in origin, but he also ventures out to play Eastern European, Asian, and African inspired music. McManus never shows off, but lets the tone of each guitar speak for itself and breathe, like a sommelier opening different vintages of wine. It’s easy to get pleasantly drunk on the result.

RATING 8 / 10