According to his PR Team Joe Satriani is the world’s most commercially successful solo guitar performer. He has six gold and platinum discs already in his locker and has a very successful sideline with all star band Chickenfoot. 

So with more than 10 million sales to his name already, July see the release of his 15th solo album Shockwave Supernova. Recorded last year at Skywalker Sound in California Satriani has gathered an impressive array of world class musicians to complement his quite extraordinary guitar talents. Keyboardist and guitarist Mike Keneally, veteran of several Satriani tours, albums and, in a past life, tours with Frank Zappa. Drumming duties fell to Marco Minnemann who's busy year included recording the critically acclaimed Hand Cannot Erase with Steve Wilson  and Marco's Aristocrats bassist extraordinaire colleague Bryan Beller completing the line up. Satriani once again continues his relationship with co-producer and engineer John Cuniberti, their shared history dates back to the guitar star’s 1986 debut album, Not Of This Earth and its follow-up, the platinum-selling Surfing with the Alien.

Minnemann and  Beller step aside for four of the tracks passing the rhythmic  duties for the driving “Keep On Movin’,” “In My Pocket,”“Crazy Joey”  and “Scarborough Stomp” for which Satriani created another power base rhythm section comprising drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank  Zappa,  Sting,  Paul  Simon)  and  Jane’s Addiction bassist  Chris Chaney (whose additional credits include Alanis Morrisette, Celine Dion and RobZombie). 

The entire album is a wonderful example of the full range of Satriani's  effortless  guitar wizardry and Keneally’s playfully complimentary piano, and switches with ease from their version of  their “deliciously greasy, souped-up take on Swing" to his world renowned relentless upbeat rock offerings that we know and love him for.

A world tour has its UK leg in November to showcase the album, which quite frankly I already have pegged as a classic, my house and commute have fully road tested the record and the quality, power and passion are evident and reflected in my repeat,play, repeat commitment to its entire tracklisting. 

Iain

10/11

@doc swallow

1. Shockwave Supernova

2. Lost In A Memory

3. Crazy Joey

4. In My Pocket

5. On Peregrine Wings

6.Cataclysmic

7. San Francisco Blue

8. Keep On Movin’

9. All of My Life

10. A Phase I’m Going Through

11. Scarborough Stomp

12. Butterfly and Zebra

13. If There Is No Heaven          

14. Stars Race Across The Sky

15. Goodbye Supernova

 

Joe will embark on his Shockwave Supernova UK Tour on November 1st at the Manchester O2 Apollo with special guest Dan Patlansky.