The Sound of the Slide Guitar (Sugar Hill, 2008)

Jerry Douglas ushered in the modern Dobro era 20 some years ago, and Andy Hall continues the evolution with a fine recording. The Dobro can be an awkward balky beast, but in hands of a player such as Infamous Stringdusters' member Andy Hall is coaxed into a beautiful bluesy instrument. His treatment is expert.

This CD concentrates on the instrumental, with tunes as diverse as straight bluegrass on "One More Moment" to complex modern acoustic instrumentals, such as the opener, "Resurrection Bay." It couldn't be Dobro without a good measure of slip-sliding blues, and Hall does it well on "Paple's Blues and "Deep Elem." Though a Dobro collection, the supporting cast on guitar, mandolin and bass are equally professional, and Rob Ickes contributes a Dobro cut "Circle the Sun."

Hall does not sing until the fifth cut, but he doesn't need to shy away from the vocals. His voice is solid, with excellent diction and pitch and plenty of emotion. "Fresh Flowers" contains some fine ballad singing. Recommenced for all Dobro fans, and anyone with an interest in modern acoustic music.