After appearing on a number of Windham Hill various-artists compilations, Sean Harkness finally issued his debut album, Aloft, in 1999. It's a collection of guitar instrumentals with a variety of tones (Harkness uses both regular and nylon strings, and steel guitars as well) and styles (quiet new age, bouncy smooth jazz, and a bit of flamenco as well). Harkness may not be entirely distinctive yet, but he's got more than a bit of potential Filled with agreeable melodies and competent playing, the debut solo recording from session guitarist Sean Harkness could hardly be a more pleasant affair. Commanding? No. Rewarding? Only sporadically. But pleasant? Without question. This is a sweet audio truffle intended to blend nicely with after-dinner drinks and civil conversation. Harkness has a thing for kites (hence the album's title), and fittingly the folk- and jazz-tinged compositions he offers on Aloft convey a lighter-than-air mood that is engaging yet dispensable. Playing a variety of guitars and a fretless bass, the nimble-fingered Harkness gently mixes textures (pop, Celtic, flamenco, Caribbean, funk, folk) to arrive at an easy-listening destination that is a modest notch above standard smooth-jazz fare. To his credit, no saxophones invade the guitarist's carefully constructed audio space, and Harkness sometimes breaks from his airplay-friendly formula ("Green Mountain Trail," "Cuchullain's Dream," and "Wynkus McGynkus," a detailed exercise on classical guitar) to remind us that this hired gun possesses an inquisitive, artistic soul of his own. --Terry Wood