From: labiche@crchh561.BNR.CA (Maurice LaBiche)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: Steve Morse, Steve Vai, Satriani, Robert Johnson
Date: 12 Aug 92 20:09:19 GMT
Reply-To: labiche@crchh561.BNR.CA (Maurice LaBiche)
Distribution: na
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.

Steve Morse - leader/composer/guitarist for Dixie Dregs in the
1970's and 1980's, an amazing guitarist blends just about any musical
style together to make his own very unique.  Has a few solo albums
out over the last several years.  His style mainly combines classical,
jazz, bluegrass, rock, country-rock.  He plays mainly a highly customized
Fender Broadcaster(i think, it might be a Telecaster though) but does
also play an Ovation acoustic.  Awesome.

Steve Vai - one of Joe Satriani's students, played with David Lee Roth
after Roth left Van Halen.  Mr. Vai's an amazing player, his style seems
somewhere between eddie van halen rock and mondo techno-wizardry.  He's
put out a few solo albums in the last several years.  He is really fast
but for my tastes his sound is too compressed and kind of glam metal rock.

Joe Satriani - Excellent guitarist, also blends several styles together
to get his own sound, I guess anyone with a unique sound nowadays assimilates
there own from others who were saying something unique with their own music)
Mr. Satriani has a few solo albums out, my favorites are his instrumental
albums, i.e Surfing With The Alien - buy this for great electric guitar
tunes.  I vaguely remember that possibly he also taught Eddie Van Halen
but I can't be sure, anybody else know this.  But anyway his style reminds
me of some of the Eddie Van Halen two handed tapping technique.

Robert Johnson - Excellent Mississippi Delta blues guitarist/singer/songwriter.
Had a style all his own, people will forever try to imitate.  Sadly he was
murdered when he was in his mid-twenties, again i might be mistaken.  
Also one of the most amazing slide guitarists ever.  His recently released
CD compilation is well worth the purchase price if your into this style
of music.  Living musicians who come closest to his style are Bob Brozman
and John Hammond Jr.  If you can go and see these guys, amazing.

Although you didn't mention them here's  a couple of other notable and 
innovative guitarists:

T-Bone Walker - one of the first electric guitarists. Took blues into
the Jazz and Big Band Era.  T-Bone created his own style jazz/blues and
has tons of music on record.  His recently released Imperial 2 CD set of
the best of his recordings on the Imperial label is great.  See 
rec.music.bluenote for some articles detailing other selections from T-Bone.

Django Reinhardt(sp?) - yet another amazing and unique guitarist. Played
with the Quintet du Hot Club in Paris during the 30's/40's(i think).  He
was a gypsy and played like one.  He was a great guitarist when younger
but had his left hand, fretting hand, mutilated in a fire when he was about
18(?).  This caused his pinky and third finger to be fused together which
had a lot to do with creating his unique style.  He's well known for bringing
the guitar out as a solo instrument when it was primarily used for rhythm and
accompaniment. Truly amazing.


There are many others.  Apoligies for any errors in the above.
The best thing to do to learn is play, play, play ...... and
listen of course.

Maurice
Newsgroups: alt.guitar