Steve Morse Is Coming!!!!!!

[koogie2k]

Steve Morse is one of the most gifted all around guitarists. He can play it all. Classical, rock, blues, jazz, etc. and is very fluent in all areas. Some have argued he is the best all around and is not stuck in one genre. Kbaim and Norm are huge fans of his and they can elaborate even further than I can.

 

[kbaim]

i have to admit i'm not real familliar with his stuff. i listen to DP, but outside of that....what is his solo stuff like???

Steve in DP is a little like Heather Locklear wearing like 15 jackets. She's still hot, but start peeling away all those extra layers and YOWZA!

Before he joined deep purple (mid 90's) he fronted 2 different bands for about 20 years. The first was the DIXIE DREGS (git, bass, violin, keys,drums) the second he called THE STEVE MORSE BAND (mostly git, bass,drums). And he still gets together once in a while with them but it's rare (like this january)

He also wrote and arranged all the tunes. All instrumental (except for maybe half a dozen or so total)

Luckily he released quite a few albums, many now hard to find. Most fans (me included) would probably rate his cd HIGH TENSION WIRES ('89) among their top 2 or 3 favorites of his. Interesting to note that he had given up the music business for a couple of years prior to it's release. He took a job flying commercial aircraft. But the creative juices really came bursting out.

My second fave smb cd is STRESS FEST ('96). A much heavier sounding effort (certainly influenced by his having recently joined dp), but it also has 2 ballads that will rip your guts out they're so moving.

If you like violin (and I do) check out some of the DIXIE DREGS cd's if you can find some. My fave DD cd is UNSUNG HEROES (81), followed closely by DREGS OF THE EARTH ('78) and then FULL CIRCLE ('94). Interesting to note that each of these cd's have a different violinist playing.

FULL CIRCLE has Jerry Goodman on violin. He most likely will be the violinist in JAN. The violinist on DOTE is now a Doctor.

Do yourself a favor and read some reviews on AMAZON.com. Then hunt down a cd (Or his DVD) and watch how it impacts your own guitar playing.

NORM? Anything you care to add?
KEITH

 

[Eilif]

Steve Morse was also in Kansas for a while. Check out 1986's Power and 1988's In The Spirit Of Things, which features a nice accoustic solo piece. You can also hear him in the King Biscuit Kansas album, which was taped in Philadelphia during the In The Spirit Of Things tour (I think).

Also, Steve Morse is the only guitarist I've heard cover Steve Howe's "Clap".

 

[Mincer]

Also, Steve Morse is the only guitarist I've heard cover Steve Howe's "Clap".

I play this at almost all of my shows!

And I hope Steve plays in his home state of Florida this tour...

 

[kbaim]

I'd just add that imo kansas material in no way approaches dregs or SMB in melody, complexity, harmony, movement, excitement, etc.

Better to skip that stuff and go straight to HIS material.

 

[brentrocks]

Steve in DP is a little like Heather Locklear wearing like 15 jackets. She's still hot, but start peeling away all those extra layers and YOWZA!

i like that!!!

i'll have t check out some of his stuff!!!

 

[Hookpunch]

I can't add much to what Keith said, except to reinforce it, Steve is incredible, and you cannot get bored of his music because it is so varied, he is great in all styles.

High Tension Wires is definitely number one or two with me, also Coast to Coast and Major Impacts.

 

[Eilif]

I play this at almost all of my shows!

Awesome! Any chance of us getting a recording? I'm curious!

 

[NorM]

I’m a Southern Steel man myself. I play Steve Morse tunes in my show and if another guitar player even knows of Steve Morse they are generally awe struck that I can pull that off. When I first heard the Dregs I was a huge Kansas fan. I thought to myself, this is what Kansas wishes they could be. I also ask people “What is your favorite kind of music? Because Steve plays that kind of music and he does it better than your favorite guitar player!” By learning Steve Morse songs other stuff becomes trivial. After his shows he won’t leave until he gets a chance to talk to everybody and sign everyone’s autographs. As far as I can tell he is a great role model. Go buy a CD! Try the alternate picking exercise exercise I listed on this forum. It will make you a better guitar player. What has Eddie done for you lately?

 

[Mincer]

Awesome! Any chance of us getting a recording? I'm curious!

Actually, I don't think I have ever recorded myself playing it, but in structure, it isn't that difficult, really. It sounds very impressive though- very simple chord forms travis-picked. Nothing is better!

 

[kbaim]

And how about these rarely-heard-played-live gems for encores?

SMB -- STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

Dregs -- VITAMIN Q

KEITH

 

[jongitarz]

Mr Baim....I just heard a friend of mine is opening for the Morse Band/Dregs show in Ventura It's on Wed. January 19th.

 

[kbaim]

The friend that robs banks or the one who swindels old people?



Actually, that's very cool. Guitar player? More info please.

 

[jongitarz]

It's The Travis Larson Band. They are a 3 piece fusion band from here in San Luis...Luke plays on a cut from the new CD (People Get ready) AWESOME female bass player.

CHECK THEM OUT

 

[GrassChopper]

I've seen The Travis Larson Band a few times over the years. The whole band is AMAZING! Some really great tunes -- and hard to believe there's only three people on stage. I can't think of a better opener for Steve.

Definitely check out the TLB website (HERE)

You can get tickets for the Ventura show DIRECTLY from the band. NO markup or surchages and it looks like they'll throw in a copy of their newest CD with an order. How cool! I was already psyched about seeing SMB and the Dregs, but when I saw TLB would be there it was almost too much to handle.


Can't wait!

 

[dwf1004]

norm has advised me that we get NO opener when the show comes to Phoenix...and that's not a bad thing. More Morse, please!