With twelve bright and breezy original compositions, guitarist/vocalist Muriel Anderson demonstrates a particular fondness for natural settings, species, and events. There are jazzy songs inspired by a flower garden, beach, sparrow, owl, wildcat, and even an earthquake. The tracks on the 43-minute album include: Wildcat, Bells for Marcel, St. Louis Waltz, Rio de Janeiro, I'll Never Sing Another Song (Tokyo Lullaby), Velzoe's Garden, The Sparrow, Lady Pamela, Castles in the Sand, Aftershock, Owls Psalm, JourneymanSongson the 43-minute album include: Wildcat, Bells for Marcel, St. Louis Waltz, Rio de Janeiro, I'll Never Sing Another Song (Tokyo Lullaby), Velzoe's Garden, The Sparrow, Lady Pamela, Castles in the Sand, Aftershock, Owls Psalm, Journeyman

Using nylon, steel-string, and harp guitar, she and her expert accompanists play with lyrical spirit. With a nicely crisp, clean sound, Muriel demonstrates great musicianship, ample energy, and plenty of personality. There are spare settings with just harp-guitar ("Velzoe's Garden") or just harp-guitar and voice with Julie Adams' cello ("Castles in the Sand"). In other arrangements, there are full ensembles ("Wildcat") and assistance of the five members of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra ("I'll Never Sing Another Song"). The featured guest artists include Duane Eddy, Stanley Jordan, Mark Kibble, Danny Gottlieb, Nicki Parrott, and Nashville Chamber Orchestra string section.

"Sparrow," "Owl's Psalm," and "Wildcat" are just three examples of her extraordinary contemporary compositions that epitomize the freedom of a bird in flight, an expressive melody in the woods, or the secretive nature of a feline in search of food. "Lady Pamela" invokes a Celtic flavoring akin to a planxty written in the seventeenth century. Copius liner notes relate Muriel's stories for each tune. Well done to Muriel Anderson for a thoroughly-engaging and tastefully-rendered project. (Joe Ross)