Leo Kottke Live
Leo Kottke has peppered his oeuvre with live albums, which is befitting since his extraordinary instrumental technique and droll humor make him a natural (albeit low-key) audience charmer. This 15-song set from a 1995 Boulder, Colorado, concert finds the guitarist focusing on late '80s and early '90s albums. He draws from 1986'sA Shout Toward Noon(check out his cover of Duane Allman's deceptively intricate "Little Martha"), '88'sRegards from Chuck Pink, '89'sMy Father's Face, '90'sThat's What, and '94'sPeculiaroso. Kottke reaches deeper into his song bag to pull out "Bean Time" (from 1972'sGreenhouse), but it's refreshing to hear him reexamine a particularly fertile period in his career while the original recordings are still fresh in his mind. The clear-as-lake-water audio quality also deserves kudos. As usual, Kottke's playing is beyond reproach and his between-song remarks are winning.--Steven Stolder