I don't consider myself musically well-read. Growing up, the family music consisted of two cassettes: Johnny Mathis (Mum) and Kate Bush (Dad) along with my sister playing the 'Incredible Hulk' theme on the piano and my brother emptying his trombone spit-reservoir on my head. For all of us though, in our formative years, there is music that is simply inescapable. Whether it's Five Star's 'System Addict' or a Bach chorale, certain melodies and words weld themselves onto your brain and are there forever. So, please trust me when I tell you that even if you don't know his name, much of the music of Henry Mancini is already in your head, and if you're anything like me, when you hear this CD you will be very glad you rediscovered it.

There are three main threads that bind together this collection of solo guitar instrumentals. The first is of course the vitality of Mancini's music, which effortlessly dances between the sophisticated and emotive, the playful and seductive. The second is the high calibre of the contributing arranger/performers - all signed to the specialist US label Solid Air. To condense rhythmically and harmonically bold, big-band arrangements on to a solo guitar is no five-minute job, as any seasoned guitarist will tell you, and you can bet there were some damn sore fingers after these sessions. For the brave, Solid Air have also put out the optional accessory of a tutorial disc and tab book of the same name, so sore fingers can be yours too!

The essential third thread is certainly the selection and compilation of tracks. Kicking off with the 'Pink Panther Theme' (what else?), deftly delivered by Laurence Juber, and following immediately with Ed Gerhard's sublime rendition of 'Moon River', I was concerned that Pink Guitar was blowing its load way too early. The modest jazz styling of David Cullen's 'Days Of Wine & Roses' and the beautifully played 'Its Easy To Say' from Doug Smith that follow, certainly cool the tubes and I wondered if it would all fizzle out too soon.

But then the memory kicks in. Pat Donohue's astonishing negotiation of 'Peter Gunn' gave me vivid flashbacks and William Coulter's bouncing 'Baby Elephant Walk' hit me in the heart - a piano favourite from my childhood. Did I know they were Mancini? Not until now.

It seems churlish to shun bonus tracks, but my only complaint is that track 13 appears somewhat lumped on, after Amrit Sond's beautifully understated and delicate reworking of 'Two For The Road' could have closed the album so perfectly.

Between the faithful renditions and the unusual re-dressings, I was pleased to discover that even the lesser-known tunes held my attention. This is partly owing to the skill with which they are delivered, but also to the variations in style from track to track. This is a tribute to both composer and arrangers, as Mancini's works easily translate into swing, folk, ragtime, ballads and bossa nova forms. The compiler's job of making this all flow as a coherent body of work is vital and, for me, it is this that makes Pink Guitar such an admirable success.

A common failing of instrumental guitar music is that it can be overly introspective and insular. As such, it rarely makes for immediately rewarding listening, particularly if you're not a guitar player yourself. With this collection you get the best of both worlds: the instant familiarity of a genius composer's best-loved melodies, along with the painstaking deliberation of truly gifted guitar arrangers. The tunes get you first and the virtuosity rewards you more with every subsequent listen.

So the charm of Pink Guitar is double-edged: it is both an inspiring display of technical prowess from guitarists who are truly at the top of their craft and a loving celebration of Mancini's musical legacy.

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Various Artists: HENRY MANCINI - Pink Guitar ©2005 Rich Barnard & Virtually Acoustic
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