Greg Howe
Sound Proof

When I first listened to "Sound Proof", a rush of adrenaline burst out like a raging torrent from the speakers of my stereo, assaulting my ears with massive doses of rock-metal, jazz, funk, and blues, all seasoned with superlative technique, great versatility, and creativity from our artist, supported by a solid rhythm section. This is how Greg Howe's eighth studio album presents itself, a guitarist of great value, heir to the masters of the 70s-80s, Scott Henderson and Allan Holdsworth, who significantly influenced the stylistic path of the musician, distancing him from a purely metal school symbolized by Yngwie Malmsteen, and blending his music with Jazz and fusion. Greg Howe was sought after throughout his career, especially in the pop realm, appearing as a soloist on stage in Michael Jackson's mega shows. There is no shortage of more demanding collaborations; notable among them "Tilt" with Richie Kotzen and "Extraction" with Dennis Chambers and Victor Wooten. As a solo artist, he has consistently proven to be an interesting musician, capable of subordinating his great technical expertise to a decent-good compositional taste; indeed, it must be admitted that his star has never shone for brilliance and originality (consider how his studio works all resemble one another), yet it remains the fact that, despite the guitarist never "daring" by offering the same mix for 16 years now, his album has always had the necessary features to provide some beautiful emotions to his listeners.

There is no exception then even for this "Sound Proof", heavy guitar riffs lead to jazzy fusion melodies in the hard and controversial opening track "Emergency exit", the brief drum solo will precede a disarming and frenzied guitar solo. The rock ballad "Morning view" is appreciated not only for its captivating and slightly cunning melody but also for a fine acoustic solo; In "Sunset in el paso", a splendid jazz ballad accompanied only by the piano, the irony of fate wants Greg Howe, freed from his "electric attire" and armed with an acoustic guitar, to be even more convincing and expressive; a beautiful track, in my opinion, the best of this work. Not that the electric and "hyperactive" Greg Howe is unconvincing, and the Funk "Child's play" is clear proof. Among the best tracks, the beautiful "title track" is also worth mentioning, funky fusion enough to make us lick our chops, with our artist's Heavy guitar stitching a melody that will easily remind us of Mike Stern's early works. With "Walkie Talkie" the jazz melodies come back again to "argue" with the heavy metal riffs, producing what seems like an animated discussion between the two genres chasing each other, alternating in a heterogeneous and never out-of-place manner.

Not a genius work or a masterpiece but nevertheless an album that will know how to give us really pleasant moments.

Rating: 3.8