Simple Beauty was named Best Acoustic Instrumental Album of 2010. International radio hosts voted this 14 track compilation as tops in its category. Voting was compiled by zonemusicreporter.com It’s been said that great melodies are never produced. They are born. They rise up out of joy. They germinate from seeds of sorrow. They set sail on wings of love. Some of the world’s greatest melodies have emerged from the Celtic cauldron of Scotland and Ireland. These songs are blessed with a simple beauty, honesty and grace. This album titled "Simple Beauty," took root with four ancient Gaelic melodies I learned from mentor Micheal O’Domhnaill of Ireland. They are songs that excite my Scotch Irish DNA. Pianist Bill Covington and I carved out fresh instrumental arrangements for the four tunes. Then I let them marinate in my soul for a while. Eventually they helped me give birth to a new set of tunes which I have featured in this collection. Celtic fiddler Jamie Laval may have said it best: “When I play truly from the heart, the music of countless past generations becomes my own voice. It’s romance too deep for words and passion too deep for tears.”