Instrumental Music

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"Surfing With The Alien [Remaster]" (10/14/1997) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Epic (USA)Personnel: Joe Satriani (guitar, keyboards, bass, percussion, drum programming); Jeff Campbell (drums, percussion); Bongo Bob Smith (percussion, drum programming); John Cuniberti (percussion). Recorded at Alpha And Omega Recording and Hyde Street Studios, San Francisco, California. Includes liner notes by Matt Resnicoff. Personnel: Joe Satriani (guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, percussion, drum programming); Stuart Hamm (bass guitar); Jeff Campitelli, Jonathan Mover (drums); John Cuniberti (percussion); Jeff Kreeger (programming); Bongo Bob Smith (drum programming). The LED ZEPPELIN IV of instrumental rock albums, 1987's SURFING WITH THE ALIEN cemented Joe Satriani's status as a top-tier virtuoso axe man. Although Satriani (a teacher to such famous students as Steve Vai and Metallica's Kirk Hammett) began getting recognition following his solo debut, NOT OF THIS EARTH, it was this subsequent record that truly sent the guitarist's career into the stratosphere. With the majority of the album performed by Satch himself (including bass, keyboard, and most drum parts), this is an outing that prominently displays his overall musical talent, while keeping the focus on his amazingly deft, blistering leads. The New York-born guitarist also impresses with his eclectic array of styles, ranging from the fierce hard rock of the title track to the delicate pop of "Always with Me, Always with You" to the bold blues of "Satch Boogie." For those curious about the revered shredder, this is a great introduction, and, for aspiring heavy-metal/hard-rock guitarists, SURFING WITH THE ALIEN is absolutely essential.

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"Strange Beautiful Music" (06/25/2002) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Epic (USA)Personnel includes: Joe Satriani (acoustic & electric guitar, banjo, keyboards, bass); Robert Fripp (electric guitar); Pia Vai (harp); Eric Caudieux (keyboards); Matt Bissonette (bass); Jeff Campitelli, Greg Bissonette (drums); John Cunibert (percussion). Recorded at The Plant, Sausalito, California. "Starry Night" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. For his first album since dabbling with electronica on 2000's ENGINES OF CREATION, Joe Satriani returns to the bread-and-butter of straight-forward instrumental virtuosity with a few exotic nuances sprinkled throughout like musical parmesan cheese. Heavy synths and delays give "Oriental Melody" a sinister glint while fat guitar tones mix with Middle Eastern-flavored chord progressions on the intriguing "Belly Dancer." Fans put off by Satch's recent experimentation will have further reason to rejoice over the return of this prodigal son once they hear the thundering riffage of "Mind Storm," hook-filled "New Last Jam" and sassy snap of "Hill Groove." Elsewhere, the Long Island native distinguishes himself from the calculated playing associated with practitioners of this genre that he spawned on two cuts--the acoustic-guitar laced "You Saved My Life" and equally moving "Starry Night." The one non-original is a gorgeous cover of the Santo and Johnny '50s hit "Sleep Walk" featuring a cameo by Robert Fripp, a guitar god in his own right. STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC is a welcome return from one of music's more maddeningly gifted participants.

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"Anthology" (11/18/2003) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Epic (USA)

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"Time Machine" (03/03/1998) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel: Joe Satriani (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass); Phil Ashley (keyboards, sequencer); Tom Coster (organ); Doug Wimbish, Stuart "Stu" Hamm, Matt Bissonette (bass); Jeff Campitelli (drums, percussion, programming); Johnathan Mover (drums, percussion); Simon Phillips, Greg Bissonette (drums); John Cuniberti, Bongo Bob Smith (programming). Producers: Joe Satriani, John Cuniberti, Andy Johns. Engineers include: John Cuniberti, Andy Johns, Jeff Holt. Includes liner notes by Matt Resnicoff. "All Alone" was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. Well-established as one of the preeminent electric guitar players of his generation by the time of this 1993 release, Joe Satriani offers his legion of fans a set of previously unreleased and live tunes on this two-disc collection. Including rare recordings from a mid-'80s EP, TIME MACHINE also features standouts such as the surging title track and the plaintive "All Alone (Left Alone)," which respectively showcase the heavy and delicate aspects of Satch's lauded six-string work. The second CD presents 14 energetic concert performances by the Long Island-born guitar hero, including the blazing "Summer Song," the dreamy "Always with Me, Always with You," and the fierce "Surfing with the Alien." In addition to Satriani's typically stellar playing, TIME MACHINE boasts contributions by a number of top-notch sidemen, including bassists Doug Wimbish, Stu Hamm, and Matt Bissonette and drummers Jeff Campitelli and Greg Bissonette, making it a must-have release for connoisseurs of instrumental hard-rock virtuosity.

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"Alive in an Ultra World" (06/19/2001) Instrumental Vai, Steve, Epic (USA)ALIVE IN AN ULTRA WORLD was composed and recorded at concerts in various countries, reflecting elements of the traditional music of the cultures in which they were recorded. Personnel: Steve Vai (vocals, guitar); Dave Weiner (acoustic & electric guitars, sitar); Mike Keneally (spoken vocals, guitar, keyboards); Philip Bynoe (spoken vocals, bass); John Pustai (spoken vocals); Scott Palacios, Bob Carpenter (accordion); Eric Goldberg (keyboards); Mike Mangini, Chris Frazier (drums). Engineers: Steve Weston, Doug Kimball, Dave Weiner. Includes liner notes by Steve Vai. "Whispering A Prayer" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Steve Vai is nothing if not a highly ambitious guitar virtuoso. ALIVE IN AN ULTRA WORLD is a unique live album in that it is wholly composed of special songs written specifically for (and dedicated to) 15 nations along THE ULTRA ZONE 2000 tour trail. Each song either employs traditional music elements of the subject country or pays homage to them through the lyrics. It is interesting to note that many of these songs came together during soundchecks in as little as 15 minutes. As Vai is well-versed in an eclectic range of music styles, the songs on this two-disc set are stylistically diverse. The tracks with vocals reflect the flavor of traditional folk anthems, and the instrumentals are rife with various scales, customary instrumentation, and of course, Vai's inimitable guitar technique.

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"Passion & Warfare" (06/24/1997) Instrumental Vai, Steve, Epic (USA)Personnel: Steve Vai (various instruments), Nancy Fagen, Jamie Firlotte (vocals); David Rosenthal, Bob Harris, Pia Vai (keyboards, background vocals), Stuart Hamm (bass), Tris Imboden, Chris Frazier (drums); Pascal Fillet, David Coverdale, Laurel Fishman, Lillian Vai, Pam Vai, Joel Kaith, Corky Tanassy, Jamie Kornberg, Lauren Kornberg, Rudy Sarzo, Adrian Vandenberg, Corinne Larue, Famin', Darla Albright, Laura Gross, Rupert Henry, Bob Harris, Suzanna Harris, Julian Vai (background vocals). Recorded at The Mothership. a The one and only Satriani-taught and Zappa-tested virtuoso, Steve Vai, returns with his self-produced 1990 release, PASSION AND WARFARE. The album was inspired by sequential dream patterns Vai experienced earlier in his life, and results in one technically electrifying ride filled with vivid mysticism and groovy instrumental imagery. The album was recorded in his home studio, the Mothership, and released on Relativity/Epic Records. Vai says it best when he characterizes this album as "Jimi Hendrix meets Jesus Christ at a party that Ben Hur threw for Mel Blanc."

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"Anthology" (11/18/2003) Instrumental Vai, Steve, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel includes: Steve Vai (acoustic & electric guitars, guitar, keyboards, bass, programming); T. M. Stevens (vocals, bass); Devin Townsend, David Coverdale (vocals); Mike Keneally (guitar, keyboards); David Weiner (guitar); Stuart Hamm, Philip Bynoe, Bryan Beller, John Sergio (bass); Terry Bozio (drums, percussion); Chris Frazier, Mike Mangini (drums). Producers: Steve Vai. Compilation producer: Jeff Magid. Includes liner notes by Jon Wiederhorn. This 2003 two-disc set offers up a generous sampling of Steve Vai tracks, focusing most sharply on the revered hard-rock guitarist's mid-to-late-1990s material. Highlights of the collection include "The Animal," a stomping metal number, and the emotive "For the Love of God," as well as the dynamic "Fire Garden Suite." While diehard Vai fans will likely own most songs on this compilation, ANTHOLOGY serves as a commendable, if slightly daunting, introduction to the amiable and inventive six-string hero.

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"Lantern *" (02/07/2006) Instrumental Clogs, Brassland

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"Submarine *" (04/25/2000) Instrumental Bissonette, Gregg, Favored Nations Records (USA)Personnel: Gregg Bissonette (vocals, trumpet, drums, percussion); Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, Doug Bossi, Gary Hoey, Steve Stevens, Robben Ford, Tim Pierce, Mike Landau, Richie Kotzen (guitar); Matt Bissonette (trombone, piano, acoustic, fretted & fretless electric basses, background vocals); David Garfield (piano, organ); Kathy Bissonette (background vocals). Engineers include: Steve Sykes, Matty Spindell, Bob Wright. Includes liner notes by Gregg Bissonette.

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"One Big Rush: The Genius of Joe Satriani" (11/29/2002) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Sony Music Special ProductsPersonnel: Joe Satriani (electric guitar).

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"G3 Live in Concert" (06/03/1997) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Epic (USA)Full performer name: Joe Satriani/Eric Johnson/Steve Vai. Personnel: Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai (vocals, guitar); Mike Keneally (guitar, sitar, keyboards, percussion); Steven Barber (keyboards); Stuart Hamm, Roscoe Beck, Philip Bynoe (bass); Jeff Campitelli, Brannen Temple, Mike Mangini (drums). Engineers include: Kooster McAllister, Skip Kent, Paul Special. Recorded live at The Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio; The Palace Of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan; Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois; and The Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota between October 30 and November 2, 1996. "Summer Song" and "For The Love Of God" were nominated for 1998 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. G3 LIVE IN CONCERT matches six-time Grammy Award nominee Joe Satriani with three-time Grammy nominee Steve Vai, and Grammy winner Eric Johnson. The CD documents the group's 1996 North American tour, and features three tracks apiece by each of the guitarists as well as three no-holds-barred jams featuring all three axe-men. G3 LIVE IN CONCERT is sure to please all lovers of guitar wizardry. This high-energy CD showcases the eclectic compositional skills of the three men, with tracks featuring everything from pumped-up fusion grooves to funk-infused rhythms and jazz-flavored numbers. Each tune, though, is really a vehicle for the soaring guitar pyrotechnics for which Vai, Satriana and Johnson are famous.

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"Time Odyssey" (03/07/2005) Instrumental Moore, Vinnie, MercuryPersonnel: Vinnie Moore (guitar); Jordan Rudes (keyboards); Michael Bean (bass); Joe Franco (drums). Recorded at Kajem/Victory Studios, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.

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"Farewell Forest" (02/07/2006) Instrumental Telepathe, The Social RegistryThese four short pieces from the Brooklyn-based improvisational trio Telepathe pack a lot of sound into their brief allotted time spans. Skittering percussion from composer Busy Gangnes, ethereal squeaks and moans from vocalist Melissa Livaudais, and a series of electronic loops and guitar phrases build on each other to achieve a kind of layered turmoil.

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"Flying in a Blue Dream" (05/27/1997) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel includes: Joe Satriani (guitar); Stuart Hamm (bass); Simon Phillips, John Campitelli (drums); Bongo Bob Smith (percussion).

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"Real Illusions: Reflections" (02/22/2005) Instrumental Vai, Steve, Red Ink Records (USA)Personnel: Tony Mcalpine (guitar, keyboards); Dave Weiner (guitar); Billy Sheehan (bass guitar); Jeremy Colson (drums). Steve Vai remains an eclectic rogue in the world of guitar virtuosos. While his staggering chops precede him, Vai is known for favoring artistic, emotional expression over blazing six-string shredding just for its own sake. With an ensemble that includes bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Jeremy Colson, and percussionist Gregg Bissonette, Vai presents his first new studio work since 1999's THE ULTRA ZONE. REAL ILLUSIONS: REFLECTIONS is the first chapter in a trilogy of concept albums. Vai offers a cryptic outline of a spiritual journey, with a well-balanced combination of all-instrumental and vocal tracks (with Vai himself ably handling singing duties). "Firewall" employs a meaty horn section for a slice of electrified neo-funk. "Lotus Feet" teams Vai with Holland's Metropole Orkest and electric-bass heavyweight Bryan Beller. The overall result is ethereal and lyric in its presentation. Vai's wild imagination runs amok on REAL ILLUSIONS, which entrances listeners with its almost limitless vistas.

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"Is There Love in Space?" (04/13/2004) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Epic (USA)Personnel: Joe Satriani (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards); Matt Bissonette (bass); ZZ Satriani (bowed bass); Jeff Campitelli (drums, percussion); John Cuniberti (tambourine); Mike Manning. Recorded at The Plant Studios, Sausalito, California. Throughout his career, Joe Satriani has managed that rare trick of inspiring worship by guitar acolytes everywhere, while still managing a modicum of crossover appeal to music fans less interested in the technical aspects of his work. His ninth album, IS THERE LOVE IN SPACE?, continues down that same path of serving both the instrumental aficionado and the casual fan. Working with bassist Matt Bissonette and drummer Jeff Campitelli, Satriani quickly switches stylistic gears, flip-flopping between an uber-funky, wah-wah riff and his standard high-flying soloing on "The Souls of Distortion" or running through the brash, drop-tuned menace of "Hands in the Air." Satch's also conjures up "I Like the Rain," a Lone Star boogie that combines a sampled motorcycle engine and a fuzz-tone vocal, and sees him coming off like ZZ Top. Likewise, this Long Island native's eccentric musical whims will have Lenny Kravitz fans doing a double take upon hearing the Lenny-like vocals and chugging swagger of "Lifestyle." Satriani even recruits his young son to contribute bowed electric bass on the atmospheric closer "Bamboo."

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"Innocence & Despair" (10/09/2001) Instrumental Langley Schools Music Project, Bar/NoneThe Langley Schools Music Project INNOCENCE & DESPAIR comprises 1970s recordings performed by a grade school vocal ensemble singing the hits of the day (and other famous rock songs), under the direction of ensemble leader Hans Fenger. Recorded in 1976 and 1977. Includes liner notes by Irwin Chusid and Hans Fenger. When it was reissued in 2001, this private-press recording of a 1970s British Columbia elementary school band and choir became a hipster must-have, largely due to its quirky backstory. But the album has a tangible sonic appeal that transcends its colorfully quaint origins. Listening to the massed voices of these grade-school kids singing in unison on bare-bones, lo-fi arrangements of `60s and `70s hits by the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and others, one gets the feeling of tuning in an oldies radio frequency from an alternate universe where professional singers and players are replaced by some white-robed phalanx of post-hippie cherubs. It's a singular experience, to be sure, and likely an acquired taste for some, but none the less appealing for that. And besides, when was the last time you heard `70s Canadian art-poppers Klaatu's "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" (later recorded by the Carpenters) and Michael Murphey's folk-rock cowboy ghost story "Wildfire" on the same album?

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"Great Sky River *" (08/28/2008) Instrumental Jazz Is Dead, Zebra RecordsJazz Is Dead: Jimmy Herring (guitar); T Lavitz (keyboards); Alphonso Johnson (bass); Rod Morgenstein (drums). Recorded at IMAC Theatre, Huntington, New York.

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"Crystal Planet" (03/03/1998) Instrumental Satriani, Joe, Epic (USA)Personnel: Joe Satriani (guitar, harmonica, keyboards, guitar synthesizer, bass, hand claps); Eric Cadieux (keyboards, programming); Stuart Hamm (bass); Eric Valentine, Jeff Campitelli (drums, percussion, hand claps); Rhoades Howe, Elk Thunder (percussion); Mike Manning, Mike Fraser (hand claps). "A Train Of Angels" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. On CRYSTAL PLANET Satch provides his fans with exactly what they've come to expect: crunching riffs, soaring melodies, chord changes and solos from heaven. He deviates little from such past releases as THE EXTREMIST and SURFING WITH THE ALIEN, and as the saying goes: "if it ain't broke". That's not to say he doesn't stay contemporary, as "Raspberry Jam Delta-V" effectively dabbles in electronica as subtle background noise. "Love Thing" is a beautiful ballad and potential single, and Satch is able to make the guitar "talk". There are also elements of funk ("A Piece Of Liquid") and metal ("With Jupiter In Mind"). But his skills shine through the most when he shreds, and nobody does it better. Quite simply, the man is a virtuoso and probably one of the most influential Instrumental Rock artists of his generation. He shows he can play at the speed of light while fitting all these speedy solos into the context of the song. CRYSTAL PLANET continues the legacy of a man who shows that no matter how much technology advances, there is no substitute for a wailin' guitar.

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"Monster Surf" (06/21/2005) Instrumental Hoey, Gary, Surfdog RecordsPersonnel: Gary Hoey (various instruments, guitar); Dick Dale (guitar); Tony Franklin, Ray Riendeau (bass guitar); Myron Grumbacher, Glenn Sobel (drums).

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"The Conduit" (06/06/2006) Instrumental Jarboe, Atavistic RecordsPersonnel: Jarboe (vocals, guitar, piano); Nic Le Ban (guitar). Released to accompany the ex-Swans singer's 2006 tour, THE CONDUIT includes Jarboe's interpretations of words supplied by fans as part of her "Living Rumor" project as well as her performances of lyrics written by the Boston artist Joshua Fraser. By turns sultry, experimental, and broodingly atmospheric, these 11 pieces, featuring the cutting-edge performer accompanied by stark, treated solo guitar and occasional percussion, are a snapshot of an innovative and fearless artist conducting her own very personal journey.

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"Ah Via Musicom" (03/20/1990) Instrumental Johnson, Eric (Guitar), Capitol/EMI RecordsPersonnel: Eric Johnson (vocals, guitar, lap steel guitar, electric sitar, piano); Steven Hennig (guitar); Wee Willie (harmonica); Steve Barber (synthesizer); Roscoe Beck, Kyle Brock, Reggie Witty (bass); Tommy Taylor (drums); Paul Bissell, James Fenner (percussion); Jody Lazo (background vocals). Recorded between March 1988 and June 1989.

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