Of the top four or five guitar players in Houston who come to mind, Rick Gordon's name is definitely right there," is the opinion of Art Gottschalk, an accomplished composer, musician and record producer who teaches music at Rice University.

"Rick has played in my studio (Sugar Hill Studio, Houston). He's a monster, a player who can eat your lunch, no matter how good you think you are. There are many excellent players who have flawless technique, but they lack the creativity that Rick has. They can't do a guitar solo like he can. He's a great improvisationalist," said Gottschalk, about the Heights area resident.

A party for the release of Go With Your Heart, Gordon's first recording of original music, will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday May 9, at Ovations, 2536-B Times Blvd.

The Rick Gordon Band features Gordon's vocals and guitar work and a stellar supporting cast on bass, drums and pedal steel, including Anders Johansson, Gerald LeBleu and Brian Thomas.

Gottschalk squinted at his thumb and forefinger held an inch apart. "Rick is this close to being a guitar god in this town."

Gottschalk isn't the only music industry insider to admire Gordon'e talents. So does Ezra Idlet, one half of the eclectic singing duo, Trout Fishing In America, a musical group

that was Houston-based until last year.

"Rick can cover a broad range of styles with authenticity and feeling. He plays them in the context that they were meant to be played," Idlet said. "His techniques are genuine - the real thing. I have learned alot from Rick. Even though our guitar

Gordon

Gordon played lead guitar on two cuts from TFIA's latest compact disc, Over The Limit. Gordon also did studio session work on local pop/rock performers Trish & Darin's latest effort, Yes! We're Open.

Who is this monster talent that only a few insiders seem to know about? First of all, although many people may not know Gordon by name, they have heard his music. Five years ago he played on the underscore - the background music - for The Eyes Of Texas program on NBC affiliate KPRC Channel 2, with Shake Russell and Clint Black.

"More people ask me about that project than any other thing I have ever done," he said.

Gordon has done lots of recording for others; now he is doing it for himself. The new Go With Your Heart, on the Chosen Music label, contains a sampling of the diverse guitar techniques that together make up Gordon's style. The discerning listener will hear folk/pop, country, ragtime, blues/rock, jazz, and faint classical echoes.

"It's easier to say what you won't hear," said Gordon. "There's no heavy metal or rap." Two cuts on the album won awards in Nashville's national music city song-writing contest.

Gordon's career has included playing with and opening for a galaxy of country, pop, blues, and jazz stars. He has played lead guitar with Willis Alan Ramsey and rhythm and blues legend Delbert McClinton. Gordon has opened for guitar greats Stevie Ray Vauhan, Doc Watson, David Bromberg and Eric Johnson and artists as diverse as Robert Earl Keen Jr., Tot and Flora Purim.

Currently, Gordon plays lead guitar with two groups. Every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. he can be found at the Alvin Tri-County Opry, where he leads a country band called The Nashville Sound. The band backs a number of country, pop and gospel singers each night in the format of the Grand Ole Opry. On Wednesdays and Sundays he plays with The Dick Allen Orchestra, a trio with an aggressive blues edge that features Dick Allen on bass and Gerald LeBleu on drums.