A collection of original instrumental pieces, with arrangements that range from lush to sparse.  The pieces reveal Andrew’s passion for melody and rhythm and acoustic sounds.   Each song features Andrew’s tap-style and/or finger-style guitar playing.  The inspiration for the title song, Escape Velocity which means ‘the speed an object (such as a rocket) needs in order to escape the gravitational pull of the earth’. To me, it was a metaphor speaking of works of art that have the power to escape the gravitational pull of the status quo - and can give us a new perspective - like those astronauts who first sent back pictures from the moon! The album won the Okanagan ‘Instrumentalist Of The Year’ award, and Andrew’s song ‘The Pilgrimage’ was short-listed for two major international songwriting contests.  This album was recorded old school, on a one inch reel to reel tape machine, giving the sounds a rich analog warmth.  This collection includes only two songs with lyrics, including one of Andrew’s most popular songs: Holes In The Night Sky.

1. escape velocity
2. descente
3. i wonder
4. january jazz
5. now and forever
6. holes in the night sky
7. happy banjo
8. deciduous
9. avi girl
10. see the winter is past
11. democracy for money
12. escape velocity reprise
13. emma
14. the pilgrimage

Produced by Andrew Smith and Brian Wiebe. copyright 2005 Andrew Smith / SOCAN   Made in Canada.