Off Topic Fusion Rock guitar music/albums

[Roubster]

Who else on here is into the Fusion Rock guitar playing? I got into it by listening and buying Greg Howe's music. I think he is one of the most interesting players out there when it comes to instrumental guitar music. I absolutely love instrumental music and mainly guitar based stuff (OF COURSE). However I feel there is SOOO much stuff out there that seems to be boring and repeating over and over. I like when the music is actually engaging and has good composition behind it instead of just speed and amazing chops. I listen to music where you can actually sing the melody lines...a lot of these shredders and other guitar players do not poses this quality. That's why my main influences include Steve Morse, Andy Timmons, Greg Howe, Vinnie Moore, Marco Sfogli, John Petrucci to name a few. Morse and Timmons being the primary ones.

Now speaking of the fusion, I know there is a ton of guys out there and I know of them but havent really explored them all. Of course Allan Holdsworth being one of the main guys that started the whole fusion thing...I've seen him live and it was amazing but dont have any of his albums.

Let me know who you guys are into and which albums you have that are inspiring.

The three Fusion Rock albums that I've been listening to other than Howe's stuff is Alex Argent's EGO with Marco Sfogli. Greg Howe, Victor Wooten and Dennis Chambers Extraction album and CAB (the first album) with Tony MacAlpine, Bunny Brunnel and Dennis Chambers.

Extraction and EGO are absolutely mind blowing all the way around. Not just the guitar, but everything in conjunction is amazing. Sometimes it's actually too much for my brain to handle and I dont know how these guys do it.

I've also been watching a lot of Tom Quayle on ze YouTube. He is an amazing fusion player...so effortless and his improv skills are insane. Of course one of is main influences was also Howe.

Please discuss...

 

[ScoobySteve]

I saw Ohm live with Chris Poland. Very fun stuff

 

[Roubster]

Ah yes Chris Poland. Interesting that he used to be in Megadeth haha. I also forgot to mention Al DiMeola, Frank Gambale and Brett Garsed. Those guys are also amazing in that genre.

 

[ScoobySteve]

I know it blows a lot of peoples minds when they see Poland live, unable to cast off the Megadeth image, but Ohm's jazz/rock fusion is very very good.

 

[guitarp77]

I know it blows a lot of peoples minds when they see Poland live, unable to cast off the Megadeth image, but Ohm's jazz/rock fusion is very very good.

I got the chance to see OHM at the Baked Potato on 2011, when I went to the NAMM show...

Simply amazing. His legato and bending technique is stupidly mindblowing.

 

[Roubster]

I know what you mean. I think it's awesome that he changed his whole perspective completely...I've seen some of his stuff and definitely did not associate him being in Megadeth.

Here is an example of Howe playing Extraction live with Dennis Chambers and Tetsuo Sakurai on Bass. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's amazing.

 

[BUC]

Recently discovered Jeff Kollman. Phe-f'ing-nomenal. Plays with several different groups but the two I really like are Cosmosquad and Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbeats. Not to mention that he evidently only jams with KILLER drummers (Shane Galaas and Chad Smith for example. Love watching those guys play)

Cosmosquad NuMena [HD DVD] - YouTube
Chad Smith`s Bombastic Meatbats-The Battle For Ventura Blvd - YouTube
Lao Tizer 2009 Promo - Part One - YouTube Jump ahead to 2:45

And Guthrie Govan and the Aristocrats
"Flatlands" by The Aristocrats - YouTube

I think it's actually a good time for these kind of artists. There sure seem to be more of them out there than there used to be.

 

[Roubster]

Ahhh Guthrie Govan. That guy is a monster. He can play absolutely anything with such ease. I have yet to get the album, but do have his solo album Erotic Cakes. Definitely need to get my hands on that album...Marco Minneman is insane and so is Brian Beller on bass.

 

[HTSMetal]

He may be a bit lesser known, but no less talented -- Vinai Triniteepakdee:

Vinai Trinateepakdee - 'Move The Sky' at Jam Track Central - YouTube

And of course, my personal favorite -- Alex Hutchings with some EBMM content --

ALEX HUTCHINGS - ICE COLD - YouTube

 

[wolfbone07]

My 2 cents. Love Chris Poland's fusion playing. If you have not heard his "Thrash-Jazz" album Return to Metalopolis, then it is worth a listen. Also, I dig Scott Henderson's Album Tore Down House. Blues Fusion.

 

[BUC]

I haven't seen a youtube clip on this thread that I didn't think was AWESOME.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Ahhh Guthrie Govan. That guy is a monster. He can play absolutely anything with such ease. I have yet to get the album, but do have his solo album Erotic Cakes. Definitely need to get my hands on that album...Marco Minneman is insane and so is Brian Beller on bass.

Rob, just come see Guthrie in person - he will be at our shop for a free clinic on July 24th He also wants to do a master class with us...

 

[ScoobySteve]

Can't listen to too much Govan. Makes me wanna smash all my guitars and run screaming in te streets "IT'S HOPELESS" like a raving lunatic. But I totally dig his tunes.

Alex Hutchings is another one of those players who can play anything. An EBMm player to boot!

 

[mystixboi1]

one of my favorite artists of all time is Richie Kotzen... not a only a monster monster monster guitarist, but he's an amazing vocalist and all around musician(plays bass, drums and keys on his albums). he does a lot of different genres, but he did a fusion album called "The Inner Galactic Fusion Experience" that's just insane...

here's one of the tracks...

Richie Kotzen & the inner galactic fusion experience - Stark - YouTube

 

[RobW]

Jeff Kollman / Cosmosquad

Jimmy Herring

Shane Theriot

Scott Henderson

 

[psychoguitarist]

Guys, check out Tom Quayle - amazing fusion guitar player

Tom Quayle - Guitarist - www.tomquayle.co.uk - YouTube

 

[Zoom]

Speaking of albums, I'd recommend:
Allan Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue
Allan Holdsworth - Atavachron (or any other his album)
Wayne Krantz - Krantz Carlock Lefebvre
John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension - To The One (or any other solo or Mahavishnu Orchestra album)
Brand X - Unorthodox Behaviour
One Shot - Reforged (not exactly guitar oriented but you'll thank me for this one)
Jonas Hellborg, Shawn Lane & Jeff Sipe - Temporal Analogues of Paradise (if you like jams - that's one of the best out there)
Jeff Beck - Wired (if somehow you don't have it)

If you like heavier stuff I'd get these:
Exivious - Exivious
Panzerballett - Panzerballett
Counter-World Experience - any album

Bombastic Meatbats (meh) or even Aristocrats (outstanding playing but compositions not so great) seems kinda dim when compared to the aforementioned albums.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Also check out Alex Hutchings on you tube. Great player and used an ASS too.

 

[straycat113]

I would say go back and buy Becks- Wired, Blow by Blow and Guitar Shop. If you never hear Where Were You go listen on Youtube as you will not find an instrumental as difficult as that to pull off with a trem and the guy has to play it every night. Too many great instrumentals on those albums but Cause We"ve Ended as Lovers is another masterpiece must know.Do you know Morse's instrumental- Simple Simon

He makes his guitar sound like he is playing a freaking fiddle- Killer! Also a song someone posted on here that has become a favorite instrumental of mine is Neil Za Za's I'm Alright- talk about hooks and melody while shredding, I personally prefer the version he does on the Carvin channel.

 

[Roubster]

I've got Beck's albums and I am the most familiar with Morse out of any other guitar player. Have all his albums including Dregs stuff of course which is another fusion crazyness on its own. That is after all the reason I am on this forum and play EBMM guitars .