Although he’s supplied the guitar firepower for the bands of Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, recorded with Lucinda Williams and Trisha Yearwood, and had his songs covered by the likes of the Dixie Chicks and Lee Ann Womack, it wasn’t until 1995 that guitarist Buddy Miller, with his modest, unassuming nature, graying locks, and ever-present ball cap finally signed a solo record deal. A guitarist obsessed with tones and textures, he’s since fashioned a rich, low-key solo career which is documented on this well-selected best-of compilation that gathers tracks from the five records that Miller made for HighTone between 1995 and 2002. On tracks like the elegiac “Cruel Moon,” (a duet with Harris), he shows both his string mastery and his strong, yearning voice. His wife and cowriter Julie also sings harmony vocals with him on many tracks including the couple’s astonishing cover of Richard Thompson’s spectacularly anguished, “Keep Your Distance.” Other guests here include bassist Joey Spampinato (NRBQ), singer Jim Lauderdale, fiddler Tammy Rogers, guitarist Gurf Morlix and drummer Brady Blades. Few former sidemen make the jump to solo performer with this much style and verve.