Richard Smyth - Sleight of Hand

"Sleight Of Hand" is the long overdue first solo recording from Toronto guitarist Richard Smyth, and it's a treat. Backed ably by fine musicians, this disc is a tour de force for Smyth. He stakes his claim quickly here on a set of ten self-penned instrumental originals. With sparkling clean tones, and warm driven tones, Smyth winds his way through a myriad of styles, from rocking shuffles and fusionesque romps to the modal middle eastern tinged "East West". While sometimes evoking Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler, he is never derivative, and the sound is uniquely his own. The writing is excellent; a welcome surprise for this genre, and the production by Mark Shannon is clean and uncluttered, with all of the instruments very nicely represented. "Sleight Of Hand" serves as an excellent introduction to this fine player.

Track Listing:
1. Vicky's Brithday
2. Big Bertha
3. Brother Ray
4. Dancing Skeletons
5. East West
6. 5 Digit Password
7. Boobs McGillicutty Rides Again
8. Vic Arpeggio
9. Curvers Ahead
10. Righteous Dude