The California Guitar Trio have always played cover versions but on Echoes, these graduates of Robert Fripp"s League of Crafty Guitarists go over the top in paying homage to their roots. From progressive rock to arena rock, art music to classical music, they bring it all to their 18 strings. Although their primary instruments are acoustic guitars, they aren"t averse to a little electric processing and that helps them when they tackle two progressive rock epics, Pink Floyd"s "Echoes" and Mike Oldfield"s “Tubular Bells.” They compress them both in time, but hit the highlights, exposing new, pastoral nuances in "Echoes" and just ripping into "Tubular Bells" to reveal its minimalist roots. These two tracks alone make Echoes worth it. CGT violate the purity of their trio concept with side musicians on a few tracks, including bassist Tony Levin and stick player Tom Griesgraber, who allow them to plug into the electric energy of some of the music. Although the two vocal tracks at the end, sung by Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a.k.a. Will Oldham, seem out of place in this instrumental setting, the closer makes it worthwhile. CGT responds to that bane of all progressive rock concerts, answering the shouted request for Lynard Skynard"s "Freebird" by actually playing it, albeit in a reggae groove. -- John Diliberto