First solo album from 1985 National Mandolin Champion and Berklee Professor John McGann. Originally released on Green Linnet's Redbird label and long out of print; I bought the masters back and am now re-releasing it. There will soon be a pair of transcription books available, one for guitar and one for mandolin, via www.johnmcgann.com. Guests include Evan Stover of Fiddle Fever on violin and viola, John Whelan of Kips Bay on accordion, members of Beacon Hillbillies, Jim Mouradian and Sharon McGann. Includes 12 of my original compositions as well as a long medley of fiddle tunes and Debussy's "La Fille aux cheveux de lin" arranged for two guitars and bass. I play dobro, steel, electric and acoustic guitars and mandolin. "A diverse, dense, dexterous delight"--Sing Out "..a style that demonstrates a true mastery of the Irish and country/bluegrass instrumental traditions, but does go that one step beyond to make a personal statement, calling upon a true artistry that few possess."--Karen White, Victory Review "One of New England's most notorious instrumental hotshots and sidemen-of-choice steps out here, with an album of his own. McGann excels on mandolin, guitar, pedal steel and a bewildering array of other instruments. This set of 22 pieces, 12 of them originals, betrays such a myriad of influences (Celtic, Bluegrass, Jazz) that it defies classification--except to say that it all blends together seamlessly and with great skill." --Elderly Instruments "Upslide is one of those recordings that causes lesser musicians to give up in despair...in one word,splendid."--Dirty Linen "Well this is a good 'un, it should appeal to a wide cross section of our readers as it draws on John McGann's bluegrass roots with the Beacon Hillbillies and mixes them with Celtic, French Canadian and Old Timey styles, to produce an interesting and entertaining cocktail...at times gentle and reflective...at other times, uptempo country picking in the style of Albert Lee.. this album is a refreshing variation on the type of acoustic instrumental albums usually found in these pages...a real toe-tapper, y'all..."- Folk on Tap, UK