BATH – Acoustic guitarist Paul Asbell will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at The Chocolate Church Arts Center.

Asbell explores a spectrum of styles from ragtime fingerpicking to crisp flat-picking to jazzy chording. He began playing at age 12, on an acoustic guitar his dad broke in while singing pro-labor and “peoples’ songs” while performing at union rallies and concerts in the late 1940s.

Asbell’s career began at age 18 at Pepper’s Lounge, the 1815 Club, Theresa’s and other haunts as a sideman to Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Junior Wells and others of the Chicago blues scene. During this time, he played on “The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions” recording, featuring Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and members of the Rolling Stones.

He assembled a quartet, originally named The Paul Asbell Quartet. The group soon changed its name to Kilimanjaro and recorded two albums of Asbell’s compositions, which won awards from the National Association of Independent Record Distributors for “Most Innovative Album” of 1981 and “Best Jazz Album” for 1983. The quartet continues to perform.

When not touring, Asbell has composed, performed and recorded more than 60 soundtracks for film and video productions. He has taught for years at Dartmouth College and Middlebury College.

Tickets: $12 for seniors, $14 for general admission; 15 at the door. They can be purchased by calling the arts center at 442-8455.