Tribute to Joe Satriani

JOE SATRIANI

The guitar. A symbol as synonymous with rock and roll as sex and drugs. While perhaps it is not as intriguing as the other two, the guitar has stood the test of time as the solid backbone of an entire musical genre, and attached to that structure is the impeccable Joe Satriani.

Joe Satriani is the guitar. Plain and simple. No one else has ever been able to play with such pizzazz, such fluidity, such timelessness. That's not to say that there aren't others out there who are accomplished, they just can't even come close to achieving the magic that Joe Satriani performs as soon as his fingers mesh with the strings. Since the late eighties, the self-taught virtuoso, Joe Satriani, has been winning over fans and musicians alike with his groundbreaking style and legendary sounds. He has been both artist and teacher, instructing such famous pupils as Metallica's Kirk Hammett, Counting Crow's David Bryson, and jazz fusionist Charlie Hunter. However, Joe's strength as a player can be seen in his numerous solo recordings, the latest being his Strange Beautiful Music (Epic 2002).

Satriani's eighth full-length studio recording, Strange Beautiful Music marks a departure from his last album, the Grammy nominated Engines of Creation. Of his creative process, Satriani says "I definitely set some parameters when I go to make a new record. I don't just do it blindly. I look at what I've done before and ask 'what can I do that I haven't done?' Those things are important to me." These seem like enormous shoes to fill for anyone, especially someone who has seemingly done it all, but we are talking about Joe Satriani.

So, Joe decided to take a new route with his work, employing bassist Matt Bisonette and drummer Jeff Campitelli, and letting the music take on a life of it's own. "I wanted them to hear the music early and give them room to move and make up their own parts, sort of like the way a normal rock band would. They had time to listen to my demos, not knowing if things would be replaced or not. They came in, played things around the tracks and then we decided what we should keep or get rid of." This new creative process resulted in one of the most elaborate recordings Satriani has done to date. The intricacies and the layering of the guitars and bass bring Satriani's famous riff-saturated jams to soaring heights.

Another shift the album takes is it's merging of alternate styles. "It's something I've always wanted to do," Satriani says, "make a real rock record, but sample all the methods I've used before. The songs are very specific; they are about my life, my feelings." This emotional side of Satriani is explored in such tracks as the spiritual "Chords of Life" and "You Saved My Life," a stunning piece layered with both feeling and exquisite craft. This sentimental side of Saurian does not in any way imply that he has forgotten how to rock. On "Seven String," he steps up to the plate established by the newer trend in rock and tackles the instrument favored by his nu-metal counterparts, and he is joined by fellow legend Robert Fripp on his homage to Santo and Johnny's classic "Sleep Walk."

Satriani has enjoyed a long and distinguished career since he first picked up a guitar at age 14. He has been around the world several times on tours of his own, as well as tours with Mick Jagger, Deep Purple, and hugely successful G3 summer tours and albums with fellow guitar legends Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. As is his yearly tradition, Joe inaugurated the current season for the Oakland A's baseball team by playing the national anthem at the opening game. Satriani has been known as the San Francisco sports team hero by also playing the national anthem for the 49ers and the Giants. Yet even with the seemingly endless performing, recording schedules, and receiving countless Grammy nominations, Joe is still going strong, not only with his current release Strange Beautiful Music, but also with his critically acclaimed DVD, Live in San Francisco, which has recently been certified gold.

Strange Beautiful Music marks yet another turning point in the enduring career that Satriani has been blessed with. "I'm just happy that I've been able to make a living, and, I hope, a contribution, doing what I love most, playing my guitar," Satriani says of a career that is forging ahead into it's second decade, "I'd like nothing more than to be able to keep doing this for years to come." Well, if his latest in a string of many accomplishments is any indication of the longevity of his career, Joe Satriani has nothing to worry about.

©2002 Sony/Epic Records