Dreamy and atmospheric are just a couple words to describe the sound of acoustic guitarist Bill Mize on his 2024 album The Southwind. Originally from Tennessee and now based up in Montana, Mize released his acclaimed album The Back Of Beyond in 2016 and, while it’s taken a while, The Southwind is a fine follow up. With 14 tracks that clock in at 47 minutes, The Southwind is understated yet captivating acoustic guitar based instrumental music.

A master of the acoustic 6-string guitar and lap steel guitar, Bill is also somewhat of a music historian and in the CD liner notes he claims the title track was inspired by a 1700’s Irish folk tune while another track here, an instrumental of a track written by Dolly Parton, called “Light Of The Clear Blue Morning” has an intro that Bill says was influenced by Aaron Copeland’s Appalachian Spring. Three tracks influenced by Bill’s original home state of Tennessee, including an instrumental of Dan Fogelberg’s “Old Tennessee”, are also fascinating to hear.

Although many of the tracks on The Southwind are Mize originals, there are plenty of cover versions, including those mentioned above, that were arranged by Bill for the album. Several guest artists appear including Beth Bramhall (accordion), Mike Baggetta (ambient electric guitar) and Daniel Kimbro (upright bass). With a number of albums previously released, as well as several guitar tab books, Bill Mize is truly an American guitar hero. Stately sounding and well worth hearing for its healing meditative qualities, The Southwind is one of the best acoustic guitar instrumental albums of the 2020’s.