The Black Swan

Pete Huttlinger's latest CD, The Black Swan, shows him digging in the trenches of Celtic music. Music that has long been a love for Huttlinger. He is joined on this CD by fellow Nashville players, Byron House on Bass, Jeff Taylor on Accordion and Concertina and Gary Tussing on Cello. This collection of traditional tunes and Huttinger's original compositions is sure to please. Here are some things others have been saying about Huttlinger in recent years... “In Pete Huttlinger’s hands, a fingerpicked flat-top becomes a mini-orchestra. He juggles it all: a tune’s melody, harmony, and bass lines—even percussion. His playing is fun, scary, and always inspiring.” Guitar Player "Sure, as a performer, Pete Huttlinger slays audiences with his mind-blowing solo arrangements and devastating chops. But he's also exactly the kind of guitar hero you want on your instructional shelf, because when it's time to talk technique, he downshifts into teacher mode with effortless aplomb. On Essential Exercises for Fingerstyle Guitar, Huttlinger generously and articulately shares his knowledge with all the patience, clarity, and encouragement you could ever hope for from a guitar sensei... The path to greatness lies here." GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE "Few guitarists achieve the kind of fingerstyle perfection Pete Huttlinger does on this outstanding solo effort. Whether he's flying through the complex changes he's devised for Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" or gently rhapsodizing on his own "McGuire's Landing" and "Goodbye Chester," he's in total command of his Collings OM1-A. With stunning arrangements of "Sunny" and Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," where he plays the bass line, horn parts and melody simultaneously without breaking a sweat, Huttlinger continues mining the rich vein of Top 40 Covers he began on 2002's Naked Pop. But he's also composed several great tunes, including "Hortensia," "Tommy in the Morning," (written for Tommy Emmanuel), and "Darcy's Guitar," one of the simplest and prettiest melodies in his repertoire. Titled after the "patron saint of impossible dreams" (according to the liner notes), The Santa Rita Connection is a dream to listen to." Jim Ohlschmidt, ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE "Fingerstyle Guitar readers are well aware of the immense talents of guitarist Pete Huttlinger. Not only as a player but as an arranger, composer and producer he always maintains only the highest standards. Those high standards are not only met on this new project but perhaps arguably surpassed. Studio greats Jeff Cox, Craig Nelson, Brian Fullen, Glen Caruba, Tom Roady, Michito Sanchez, Chris Nole, Tim Hayden, Bob Patin and Rob Ickes support Pete's acoustic guitar through most of the record but don't worry, the guitar is up front and clearly the leader of the pack. The overall quality of the production, sound and playing is world class and very well thought out. Twelve originals plus three wonderful arrangements of "No such Thing," by John Mayer, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," by George Harrison and "A Felicidade," by Antonio Carlos Jobim make this CD a great listening experience." Things Are Looking Up Review, FINGERSTYLE GUITAR MAGAZINE “…an amazing display of all-around fingerstyle mastery. Scary stuff.” GUITAR PLAYER “…a powerhouse guitarist…Huttlinger manages to squeeze out full rock and soul and funk arrangements using just his six-string.” DIRTY LINEN “Fingerpicking phenom Pete Huttlinger has succeeded in a big way. ..that player is a major talent.” VINTAGE GUITAR “…the official ‘King Of The Fingerpickers’. Huttlinger’s prize winning performance was of his own warp speed composition, ‘Brown Bomber’ and his arrangement of Steely Dan’s ‘Josie’…an arrangement fit for a King.” FINGERSTYLE GUITAR “Huttlinger is yet another gifted Nashville plucker whose artistic reach far exceeds Music Row. His new Naked Pop CD is an acoustic music maven’s dream.” NASHVILLE SCENE “Huttlinger is the one to watch.” THE CITY PAPER