Guitarist Jim Campilongo has been called a "national treasure" by Billboard, an extraordinarily intuitive and gifted player who is not only renowned as an in-demand session player (for the likes of Norah Jones and Martha Wainwright) but as a musical visionary who has staked out his own creative outlook over the course of eight solo albums. With a ringing, sinewy style that sometimes sounds like it's literally being squeezed from his trusty '59 Telecaster, Campilongo finds that rarified space on a song that is distinctive without being overly showy, filling the spaces with a restraint that still manages to let his virtuosity shine through.

New February 16 album Orange is yet another collection of remarkable fret work from Campilongo, an astonishingly diverse assortment of instrumentals that should appeal to fans of Jeff Beck, Roy Buchanan and anyone who has secretly strutted a few air guitar riffs now and then. Produced by Anton Fier and backed by drummer Tony Mason and bassist Stephen Crump, Orange also boasts two outstanding covers -- The Stones' "No Expectations" and The Stooges' "No Fun" -- featuring vocalist Leah Siegel. Slowed and stripped to the core, these songs simply put Campilongo's inspired playing directly up against Siegel's impassioned voice in a one-on-one match that will raise goosebumps. The aptly titled,scorching instrumental workout "Backburner" kicks off Orange with an incendiary, muscular kick, setting and then blowing out the stage for the glorious works to come. Highly recommended.

Jim Campilongo - "No Expectations" (featuring Leah Siegel) (From the album Orange)

Jim Campilongo - "Backburner" (from the album Orange)