Ricky Jay Plays Poker CD

Actor (MAGNOLIA; SPANISH PRISONER), writer/historian, and card sharp/sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay is, not surprisingly, also an avid poker player. Like all Jay's many and varied endeavors, the compilation RICKY JAY PLAYS POKER displays Jay's consummate knowledge of his subject. The disc features a stellar collection of tracks celebrating or bemoaning (depending on your hand) the hottest game in town. Among the many artists Jay looks to are Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, O.V. Wright, Merle Travis, Memphis Minnie, and Saint Etienne.

It's time for poker music - and who better to bring you this deck of good beats than the world's foremost magician, conjurer, card thrower, and sleight-of-hand dealer, Ricky Jay. The DVD features Jay performing some of his incredible tricks at the card table (tip: never EVER play poker with this man!), while the CD features tracks by Phil Harris, Bob Dylan, Saint Etienne, Patsy Cline, Lorne Greene, Memphis Minnie, Howard Da Silva, Robert Johnson, Frank Crumit, Harry Willis, Anita O'Day, Blind Blake, Merle Travis, Tex Williams, Bert Williams, O.V. Wright, Townes Van Zandt, Country Gentlemen, Dave Van Ronk, and Mississippi Sheiks. Included is a 76-page color book.

(Note: The deluxe edition of the disc comes with a DVD that shows Jay explaining the ins and outs of various card tricks, sleight-of-hand moves, and classic con games. Brilliant stuff.)Entertainment Weekly (p.76) - "[A] set of gambling tunes to accompany your basement games of Texas Hold 'Em." -- Grade: B