The Art of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar

Released in 1979 and later expanded, The Art of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar is a definitive document of Duck Baker's ability to synthesize disparate traditions. While Baker is often categorized within the American Primitive or folk scenes, this album serves as his formal bridge into the world of jazz. He approaches the Great American Songbook not as a jazz purist, but as a fingerstyle innovator, using the alternating bass techniques of Appalachian music to drive the sophisticated harmonies of Duke Ellington and Edgar Sampson. The recording is notably dry and intimate, capturing the percussive nature of his playing and the natural decay of the acoustic guitar. Critically, it is regarded as a landmark in solo guitar performance, praised for its 'warmth and character' over the flashy fusion styles prevalent in the late 70s. It remains a essential study for guitarists and a high-water mark for solo acoustic jazz.