Leo Kottke

Solo acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke is a walking contradiction. In conversation he is slow talking, thoughtfil almost to distraction. Yet when he picks up a steel-stringed guitar, his fingers race across the strings with uncommon speed, developing a deep, churning groove that can at times sound like several people playing at once. He seems to play guitar at 78 rpm, yet he speaks at 33. Now 66 years young, Leo Kottke has recorded more than 30 albums that showcase his barnstorming fretwork and quirky songwriting. He is truly a master of the guitar whose playing has influenced generations of musicians and listeners, and he still tours the country relentlessly, playing his 6 and 12-stringed guitars for appreciative audiences ranging from New England to Southern California, from Brisbane to Berlin.