Texas Platters

George Ensle

George Ensle calls himself a song painter, an apt enough characterization of his mood-set pieces and deft strokes of masterful picking. "Walkin' Tall" opens on an infectiously easy back-porch ditty, matched by the loping "Circuit Preacher" and beautiful "Coming Back Around," but Ensle also evokes darker hues with "Second Chances." His bluesy gospel roll "Bread of Life" makes up for the overly saccharine "Everyday Heroes," and "Christmas Truce of 1914" crafts a touching portrait.