Blake & Rice
Bluegrass guitar doesn't get any better than Norman Blake and Tony Rice, who, along with Clarence White, remain the greatest ofDoc Watson's flat-picking disciples. On this 1987 record of 14 duets, Blake and Rice show themselves to be complete musicians, not merely picking machines. Sure, there are a plethora of mind-blowing licks, but they also add some heartfelt vocals and delicate ballads into the mix. Much of the record consists of traditional fiddle tunes reworked for guitar, but the pair also include three Blake originals plus an eclectic assortment of covers ranging fromBill Monroeto theDelmore BrotherstoGordon Lightfoot. Guitarists will want to take notes, but all listeners will find the record consistently charming.--Marc Greilsamer