Grant Gordy & Ross Martin

Grant Gordy and Ross Martin’s duet recording Year of the Dog brings together two of acoustic music’s most forward-thinking virtuoso guitarists, both of whom have deep backgrounds in the American musical vernacular. The duo, born of impromptu musical meetings and jams, honors its birth in spontaneity with plenty of seat-of- the-pants soloing as well as some elaborate two-guitar arrangements that recall other great guitar pairings: Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, John Scofield and Bill Frisell, Lennon and Harrison, Rice and Blake, Garcia and Weir, and McLaughlin and DiMeola, to name a handful.Improvisation, fluency in different styles, and thoughtful arranging are also hallmarks of some of the bands in which Grant and Ross have previously made their marks. Grant held the guitar chair in the legendary David Grisman Quintet for six years, and currently plays in Mr. Sun with DGQ alum Darol Anger. Ross has been the guitarist in the Matt Flinner Trio, probably the best keeper-of- the-flame of the vibrant new acoustic music created by Grisman and his numerous stellar sidemen since the DGQ’s launch in the mid-1970s. While Grant and Ross’s recording is not designed to appeal primarily to guitarists, six-string fans will revel not only in their virtuosity but also in the rich sounds of their guitars. While their originals attest to their ability to convincingly combine styles into coherent and tuneful compositions, the variety of covers fit so perfectly together that it becomes clear how well Grant and Ross have assimilated all their influences and created their own styles, which, while being easily distinguishable, perfectly complement each other. While obviously a must-have for guitarists looking for the latest in six-string virtuosity, Year of the Dog, as well as any upcoming live shows by the prodigious duo, will appeal to any music lover interested in new sounds and spontaneous musical sport.

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