Albums of guitar duets are rare. Albums of guitar duets featuring one American and one Englishman, synthesizing their particular geographically specific approaches in a collection of new compositions, are even more rare. Not since Stefan Grossman and John Renbourn's partnerships of the 1970s has there been such a happy reconciliation of Merrie Old England and the good old USA, in which baroque meets the blues, music-hall steps out to ragtime, and Benjamin Britten sits down with Blind Blake.

James Elkington moved from London to Chicago around the turn of the millennium and has since released a string of albums as leader of The Zincs for Thrill Jockey Records.  After dissolving the band in 2008, Elkington has concentrated on acoustic, folk-tinged music with his band The Horse's Ha (that he shares with Freakwater's Janet Bean), culminating in the release of their debut album, Of The Cathmawr Yards in 2009. He is also the owner/operator of a clunky solo career, and moonlights convincingly as the guitar player in Jon Langford's (of The Mekons) Skull Orchard.

Nathan Salsburg is best known as an archivist and producer for the Alan Lomax Archive, curator of the Twos & Fews vernacular-music imprint on Drag City Records, and host of the "Root Hog Or Die" program on East Village Radio. But after a 2007 move from New York City back to his childhood home of Louisville, Kentucky - and the inclusion of a track on Tompkins Square's "Imaginational Anthem, Volume 3" compilation - he discovered adequate time, space, and energy to devote to guitar playing.

Elkington suggested a leap of faith into a collaboration, despite the fact that the two had never previously played guitar together. Avos, then, hither and thither over several seasons, between a porch in Louisville and a kitchen in Chicago, slowly took shape. Aptly, the name comes from the Russian word for the confident approach to new situations, and the faith that nothing tragic will occur once in them.

James Elkington & Nathan Salsburg play their record release show on Sunday, October 9th at The Hideout in Chicago. More shows will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Seth Walker will make you believe with his forthcoming new album, Leap of Faith, set for release March 3 on Hyena Records. A rising star in blues and roots music, the young Austin, Texas-based songwriter, singer and guitarist has made his finest record to date. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Gary Nicholson, the twelve-track collection showcases Walker's impressive command of modern rhythm and blues, as it calls to mind artists like James Hunter, Robert Cray and Susan Tedeschi. And while Leap Of Faith centers around Walker's soul-stirring originals, such as the album's first single, "Rewind," it also features inspired renditions of other songwriter's work, including an unforgettable take on Nick Lowe's "Lately I've Let Things Slide."

Music audiences around the world were first introduced to Seth Walker with the release of his widely praised, self-titled 2007 Hyena Records debut.  It hit the top twenty of the Americana and Living Blues charts, while receiving unanimous praise from publications like No Depression, Blues Revue and Maverick UK Magazine.  Walker's undeniable style is also garnering accolades from legendary artists like Bonnie Raitt, Taj Majal and Delbert McClinton.  McClinton makes a guest appearance on Leap of Faith, lending his vocals to the track "Something Fast" and raves, "The first time I heard Seth Walker at a small club in Nashville I was impressed like I haven't been impressed in 30 years, with performance, presence, and great songs." No overnight success, Walker has been developing his craft in his adopted hometown of Austin, Texas for upwards of a decade.  Seth took an unlikely path to the blues, growing up on a commune in rural North Carolina as the son of classically trained musicians. He played cello from the age of five before discovering the guitar in his late teens.

Seth Walker will be a featured performer at this year's South by Southwest, and heads out on a U.S. tour in early 2009. Known for his scorching live shows, he hit the road extensively throughout '08, performing at world-renowned festivals like Flat Rock in North Carolina, Springfest in Florida, Rawa Blues in Poland and Moulin Blues in Holland.  He's headlined shows across the U.S., often playing to sold-out rooms, while joining the likes of Johnny Winter, Marcia Ball and Robert Cray for opening appearances.