Beppe Gambetta

Italian folk guitarist Beppe Gambetta has fleet fingers, and he shows them off on this largely instrumental solo album, beginning with the flashy "On the Road with Mama," on which he plays both six- and 12-string acoustic guitars. Rapid flatpicking is mixed with a collection of effects to provide a display of technical brilliance and style that sets up the rest of the record. In comparison, the second track, "Fandango per la Bionda," which also has some fast passages, seems nearly casual. Gambetta risks singing English in his Italian accent on Norman Blake's "Church Street Blues," which is one of the few tracks to feature many other musicians, guests including Dan Crary and Gene Parsons. He is more at home singing in his native language on "Nova Gelosia/Serenata," but he is most comfortable just playing those amazing runs on guitar and bouzouki. Blu di Genova is a wonderful acoustic folk record that will be appreciated best by fans of textured and speedy guitar work. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide