Artist: Steve Abshire and Vince Lewis Title: Live at the Mainstay Label: Noteworthy Jazz Web: noteworthyjazz.com

By Michael Macey

Live at the Mainstay is an album of instrumental tunes that showcases the guitar duo of Steve Abshire and Vince Lewis. Backed by Joe Byrd on bass and Chuck Redd on drums, the quartet breezes through a selection of jazz, swing and blues tunes with a laid-back ease that sounds like it's second nature to all parties involved. Playing with finesse and style, Abshire and Lewis complement each other perfectly. From the opening notes you get an immediate sense of the musical chemistry that these two share. Playing with and off each other, Abshire and Lewis blend and weave the notes into a texture of virtuosity.

The recording has a warm quality to it, with a nice sense of being there. Abshire is on your left and Lewis is on your right, with the bass and drums somewhere in the center. All in all, this is a pretty good sounding recording.

The Mainstay is a small club on the Eastern shore in the town of Rock Hall, Maryland. Some of the greats who have played the room include the late Charlie Byrd, O'Donel Levy, Tommy Newsom, Bucky Pizzarelli and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Since its inception in 1997, it has gained a reputation as the place to go to hear some of the best music in the area, jazz or otherwise. Steve Abshire and Vince Lewis’ Live at the Mainstay helps to cement that reputation.

If you are a jazz guitar aficionado, then this one is for you. Full of impeccable playing and classy tunes, Live at the Mainstay is a winner for all involved.