Best of Western NY

Multiple Juno Award winning producer and guitarist Steve Dawson has worked with artists John Hammond, Kelly Joe Phelps and Big Dave McLean to name a few. His new album, his eighth if you're keeping count, titled Lucky Hand shows why he is such an in demand player and producer. The ten instrumental tracks of Americana/bluegrass music are in the form of solo, duo and string quartet arrangements all sans percussion, bass and keyboards. Dawson brings along longtime collaborator Jessie Zubot to play, arrange and co-produce the album. Guests include Josh Zubot (violin), John Kastelic (viola), Peggy Lee (cello), Jeremy Berkman (trombone), Nick Anderson (French horn), Sam Davidson (clarinet), John Reischman (mandolin) and Charlie McCoy (harmonica). Dawson's amazing fret work echoes such masters as Leo Kottke or Sonny Landreth but with his own style, phrasing and exploration of the guitar. Highlights include the album opener "The Circuit Rider of Pigeon Forge" a zesty workout to say the least, "Bentonia Blues" with its high lonesome slide guitar and harp, "Old Hickory Breakdown", the gentle strains of "Little Harpeth", the title cut "Lucky Hand", the finger picked gem "Hollow Tree Gap" and the album closer "Bugscuffle".