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Tommy Emmanuel is a veteran acoustic guitar player from Australia, where he's reputed to be a legend. He's written pop songs forOlivia Newton-John,Al Jarreau, andSheena Eastonand released skillfully played, if generic, smooth jazz albums. But it's as a solo acoustic finger-style player that Emmanuel makes jaws drop, and that's all you hear on this brilliant album. Emmanuel is an eclectic guitarist whose playing is infused with old-timey jazz on "Timberlake Road," New Age melodicism on "Those Who Wait," and a Celtic-classical tinge on "Padre." Emmanuel is capable of a dizzying array of harmonic effects, off-hand ornamentation, hammer-ons and pull-offs, and just about anything else you can do on an acoustic guitar. But while it's the technique that amazes, it's the songs that keep drawing you back with their intricate melodic invention. Perhaps because he's an unrepentant punster, Emmanuel is able to create just enough distance, with a cocked sideways glance, to keep his music on the right side of the line between sentimental and sublime.--John Diliberto