REVIEW
Little Man
Steve Wildey
Finally a purely instrumental album arrives
at our office and it’s Steve Wildey’s Little Man. The winner of the 2005 South Florida Folk Festivals Fingerstyle competition and 1st runner up at the 10th annual Gambel Rogers Folk Festival Fingerstyle competition brings a lot of technical and lyrical skills to this CD. Often instrumentals are accused of lacking feeling. Not so with the standout track for us: “Seasons Of Life”. With its complex arrangement, Widley manages to weave a lyrical and melancholic melody line through the entire track.
This ability to retain the listener’s attention through technically demanding fingerstyle arrangements is a particular skill even with the varied styles on the CD. From the Travis style picking on “Love’s A Twister” to the restrained chordal work on “Yellow”, the entire album is more a showcase of the skills Wildey has to offer. We look forward to his work, and in particular what can be achieved with a focused album.