Sonny Landreth is a mean guitar god himself, as lovers of the instrument will be reminded tonight when he returns to town for his first local gig in 15 years (7 p.m. at the New Lafayette Club).

But when you invite five or so other guitar gods over for a party, you can expect some rafters will be raised.

Splintered, to be exact.

Such was the case over the past year or so when Landreth, the Louisiana slide guitar king of the famously unique technique, threw a little party.

On the guest list:

Eric Clapton.

Mark Knopfler.

Eric Johnson.

Robben Ford.

Vince Gill.

Not that this was a case of 100-percent guitar snobbery, mind you. Also on the invitation list were:

Dr. John.

Jimmy Buffett.

The occasion: The realization of a long-held Landreth dream to get some of his closest musical cronies together for what might be looked upon as the mother of all guitar gatherings.

The result: Landreth's ninth album, "From the Reach," which since its May 20 release has topped various blues and roots music charts and become one of his most successful recordings.

"It's a great feeling. This is something I've always wanted to do but could never pull off," says the 57-year-old veteran, whose signature slide guitar technique involves fretting notes and playing chords and chord fragments behind the slide while he plays.

That may mean little to those who don't know the instrument. But for those with an appreciation for how it's done, Landreth is something of a legend.

Simply put, Landreth plays with the slide on his pinky finger, a placement that gives his other digits more room to fret behind the slide.

When the project began cooking in 2006, Landreth started out with a wish list of the fellow guitar gods he hoped to corral.

As illustrious as it was, none were strangers.

"Really, all of them I've collaborated with in one way or another before, whether playing at festivals or on other studio projects," he says.

Landreth set himself the task of writing a song tailored to the individual tastes and talents of each of the names on his list.

At the same time, "I knew that the whole duet kind of approach has been done to no end," he says. "I wanted to do it in a way that would make it unique. So the idea was to write each of the songs especially for the musician."

Among the designer offerings were "Blue Tarp Blues," penned for Dire Straits legend Knopfler; "When I Still Had You" and "Storm of Worry," both for Slowhand (Clapton); and the country-centric "The Goin' On," just right for Gill (who is following Landreth to Bloomington for his December Christmas concert with wife Amy Grant at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum).

Landreth says he's pretty certain his approach to the album is "unique," and he admits a dirty little secret: He began writing and tailoring the songs "before I asked anyone to do it - but I was so fired up about it."

Of all the names on Landreth's wish list, only two (who he says shall remain nameless) were unable to commit to the project, which, by its very nature, had to be assembled with some of the guitarists and guests in another studio in another part of the world (a la England for Clapton).

Though he can't bring that whole party to the New Lafayette Club show tonight, Landreth will be bringing his crack three-piece band and an entire career retrospective with him.

Not to mention those designer "From the Reach" songs, even without all the performers for whom they were penned.

"They're the same songs, distilled and revamped, and with that raw edge of being live and in the moment with the audience," he says.

So, no need to fret - unless, that is, you're Sonny Landreth's fingers poised over Sonny Landreth's guitar.

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At a glance

What: Sonny Landreth with The Delta Kings

When: 7 p.m. Nov. 13

Where: New Lafayette Club, 1602 S. Main St., Bloomington

Tickets: $22

Ticket information: (309) 928-9876