Although
Steve Vai and
Joe Satriani get the lion's share of the credit for popularizing "instrumental guitar-driven rock" for metalheads in the late '80s, another gentleman was merrily shredding on the six-string around this same era (and issuing all-instrumental recordings, as well) --
Steve Morse. And despite a full-time gig as
Ritchie Blackmore's replacement in
Deep Purple since 1994,
Morse has managed to find the time along the way to reunite with his trusty rhythm section of bassist
Dave LaRue and drummer
Van Romaine, and issue albums credited solely to the
Steve Morse Band. Case in point, the trio's 2009 offering,
Out Standing in Their Field. Times and tastes may change in the rock world on a seemingly moment to moment basis, but you always know what's in store with a new
Morse Band release -- tunes that include unmistakable
Zeppelin-esque grooves ("Name Dropping"), mellow detours ("Here and Now and Then"), and of course, chicken-pickin' country ditties ("John Deere Letter"). As far as technique goes,
Morse can shred and pluck with the most dexterous of six-string slingers -- further proven with the arrival of
Out Standing in Their Field. ~ Greg Prato