Well-known and emulated by acoustic guitar devotees, Bert Jansch has never had the notoriety that British folk rocker Richard Thompson gained, though he's every bit as dynamic a guitarist, and has absorbed and transformed even more influences--notably the Delta blues. There's a geometric precision behind this Scot's fleet, rhythmic fingerstyle work, which never sounds quite like any guitarist you can name. He's also an underrated composer, as the opening track alone should tell anyone, especially Led Zeppelin fans: Jimmy Page and band recorded it, renamed as "Black Mountain Side." This single-disc collection overflows with Jansch's formidable, hypnotic talent. --Roy Francis Kasten
