Overnight I worried a tiny bit about what I said above. Each performer has a different voice, and what I think they might have in common is not what someone else might be looking for....

I'll tell you what I'm thinking:

Martin Simpson in an incredible guitar player, technically and passionately. He's bluesy, celtic, gospel.....

Don Ross is an incredible guitar player, technically and passionately. He's jazzy, bluesy, celtic......

Kelly Joe Phelps (another I'd thought to mention) is an incredible guitar player, technically and passionately. He's blues. True true blues. Beautiful sexy blues.

So, I hope that nobody tries to listen to Don Ross, and then says, "But he doesn't sound anything like Martin Simpson. Black Walnut is Nuts". I do hear some overlap of styles, but I was more drawn to the ease with which they play - the way that the guitar is so much a part of these guys, like another arm, almost. I never tire of hearing their recordings over and over again. These three are all Top-of-the-Ladder guitar players!

~black walnut (am i making any sense?)