AA.VV.
A Guitar Supreme (Giant Steps in Fusion Guitar)

THE REVIEW

The elite of world guitarists gather for a tribute to one of the most towering figures in jazz history.
Bringing together such a Dream-team could only be him, Mr. Mike Varney, number one talent scout of rock-fusion guitar.

"What's the connection," some might wonder, between rockers like Steve Lukather, Greg Howe, and Eric Johnson and the music of old Trane? Yet, the most interesting insights of this album come precisely from the guitarists less accustomed to Jazzy contexts.
If no confirmation was expected from the "Masters" Stern, Gambale, and Coryell (who nonetheless gift us with solos full of great feeling), some skepticism was indeed held towards the Toto leader Steve Lukather. However, he delivers a compelling rock-blues solo on "Crescent", here revisited in a Funk key. Melodic phrasing and above all an amazing sound feature in Johnson's phrasing on "Resolution", while Ford reinterprets "Village Blues", making it "sing" incredibly "bluesy." But the real revelation is Greg Howe; the pyrotechnic Californian axeman chooses a real challenge: "Giant Steps", one of the most harmonically complex pieces in "Coltrane's" discography. A wave of chords on which he navigates with great taste, incredible technique, and timing of a true bopper.
The album's arrangements are also of excellent quality (entirely curated by Jeff Richman) adapting each piece to the style of the guitarist in question.