After 20 years in the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John McEuen left the group in 1986 to launch a solo career as an acoustic instrumentalist. He soon distinguished himself by always keeping fresh, appealing melodies in the foreground, no matter how knotty the improvisations became. His 1991 album, "String Wizards," showcased his banjo picking in the company of such new-grass heroes as Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas. McEuen's 1993 album, "String Wizards II," repeated the formula with guests such as Darol Anger and Byron Berline. The 1996 album, "Acoustic Traveller," showcased McEuen's guitar work and international influences.
"The Best of John McEuen: String Wizard's Picks," sums up the first 10 years of his solo career by sampling four tunes from the first album, three from the second and six from the third. In addition to these 13 familiar cuts, there's a previously unreleased live performance -- a surprising, supple version of Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me" with McEuen's son Jonathan on electric guitar and vocals. The compilation also comes with multimedia tracks for a CD-ROM; included are two music videos, a delightful eight-minute live-performance clip from 1986 and some audio interviews. McEuen has proven that even a non-singer can enjoy a healthy solo career after leaving a famous group, and there's no better introduction to his post-Nitty years than this. Appearing Sunday at the Ram's Head Tavern. To hear a free Sound Bite from John McEuen, call Post-Haste at 202/334-9000 and press 8104. (Prince William residents, call 690-4110.)