Greg Howe-Blue Wind HD

Various Artists - Freeway Jam - To Beck And Back 2007 An all-star cast of jazz, blues, and fusion guitarists gives Jeff Beck’s catalog a whirl in this hourlong instrumental tribute to one of the U.K.’s finest six-stringers. The back line of drummers Simon Phillips and Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist Stu Hamm, keyboardist Mitchel Forman, and rhythm guitarist/producer Jeff Richman (who also solos on “El Becko“) provides unifying glue to the proceedings. Not surprisingly, the ten-title track list concentrates on Beck’s generally lyric-free fusion work that started with 1975’s Blow by Blow. But an occasional foray into older material (John Scofield’s drastically rearranged Yardbirds-era “Over Under Sideways Down“ and Eric Johnson’s take on “Beck’s Bolero“) gives it a bit of variety. Still, this is clearly geared toward shredders and readers of Guitar One magazine, who will likely eat up the finger speed and sound these acts are known for. The guitar shenan