For those unaware, Solo Jazz Guitar: Muagsician features mainly as a jazz guitar soloist on this 2-disc, 25-track, album.

Playing solo jazz guitar requires a great amount of musicianship and is a bit of a magician’s trick as well, as it is not possible to cover the melody, the bass line, the rhythmic groove, an improvised solo, and comp the chords all at the same time.

So, in part, Kristen has to create the illusion that these things are all there by skillfully intertwining pieces of each of these elements together in a given performance.

As a result, you get the combination of a musician and a musical magician – a muagsician – and pure musical magic. The album is comprised of original selections, covers of jazz standards, and some arrangements of traditional folk or hymns tunes.

Also, 8 tracks include some sung melodies, which nicely offsets the solo guitar playing.

CD 1:
1. Watermelon Man
2. Route 66
3. Faith Preceded My Miracle
4. All Blues
5. Simply Miraculous
6. Abide With Me, ’Tis Eventide
7. The Girl From Impanena
8. L.O.V.E.
9. Through The Veil
10. Summertime
11. Amazing Grace
12. Lasst Uns Erfreuen

This beautifully sculpted new recording opens on the rhythmically sculptured Watermelon Man and the vibrantly joyful Route 66, and then we get brought forth the impassioned Faith Preceded My Miracle, the smoothly precise All Blues, the pop-blues bounce of Simply Miraculous, and the ornate Abide With Me, ’Tis Eventide.

Next up is the dutifully melodic flow found within The Girl From Impanena and the playfully sultry L.O.V.E. and then we get the pleasing Through The Veil, a beautifully hued Summertime, and they are backed by an impassioned Amazing Grace, the first disc rounding out on the ornately delicate Lasst Uns Erfreuen (Let us rejoice most heartily).

CD 2:
1. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
2. Rainy Day Blues
3. Cantaloupe Island
4. All the Things You Are
5. Bring It On
6. Paint Me a Picture My Love
7. Just Walkin’
8. First Vision
9. Quiet Night of Quiet Stars
10. So Much Better
11. Winter Sunrise
12. How Great Thou Art
13. I Know My Redeemer, He Lives!

The second disc opens on the earnestly fervent Don’t Get Around Much Anymore and the focused Rainy Day Blues and they are in turn followed by one of my own personal favorites, the feel good Cantaloupe Island, the simply beautiful All the Things You Are, the forthright Bring It On, and then we get the smoothness of Paint Me a Picture My Love.

Then comes the confident Just Walkin’ and the ornately ambient First Vision and they are followed by the aptly titled Quiet Night of Quiet Stars, the perky So Much Better, the low slung Winter Sunrise, the album coming to a close on the pleasing How Great Thou Art and the delicately embroidered I Know My Redeemer, He Lives!

Official Purchase Link