How many folks have watched first runs or reruns of the TV shows In the Heat of the Night, Murder She Wrote, or Jake and The Fat Man; or seen commercials for Nike, McDonald's or Mercedes; or celebrated the craze of disco days watching the film Urban Cowboy?

Your guess is as good as mine, but Leach has been a studio musician on the music for them all.

As a longtime studio musician in Los Angeles, Leach's skills on elecrtic and acoustic guitar, banjo,pedal steel, mandolin and Dobro are well known. From Joni Eareckson Tada to Barry McGuire to Bonnie Riatt to Bob Geldof, a variety of music talents have tapped his skills for their recordings.

Beyond Words showcases Leach's articulate acoustic guitar work while his friends Kirk Whalum, Alex Acuna, Abe Laboriel, Sid Page and many others do a masterful job filling in the rhythm an supporting licks. Leach effervesces on the opening track, "Festejo" with a sound that makes you think jazz guitarist Earl Klugh is the player. With his aggressive delta-style bayou version of "Amazing Grace" Leach's acoustic guitar styling bears a resemblance to the sounds of Nashville session guitarist Billy Joe Walker on his 1987 acoustic album Treehouse.

Other songs on the 10 track disc of instrumentals include arrangements of "Holy,Holy,Holy," "Great is thy Faithfullness" and original,"Rise Again". But Leach's arrangements of these popular songs are done in a style that refreshes the songs and makes them sound as you probably haven't heard them sound before.

Leach's work has been recognized by Guitar Player Magazine, and Fingerstyle, which is another magazine for guitarists, plans to do a feature article about him which will include the tablature of his version of "Amazing Grace". His music ( except for his 3rd Album,"Wondrous Love" ) is released on his own independent label Playlist and has been recognized by many in the Christian community such as Jack Hayford, Pat Boone, and Dick Eastman.

If you like music that soothes and inspires but is played with true professional finess, Beyond Words is for you. And after a listen, Jay Leach just might be a household name at your house.

-Jimmy Stewart