Anyone who thinks that Joe Satriani’s music is just for guitar players should lend an ear to his latest live release titled “Live In Paris: I Just Wanna Rock.” From beginning to end, the title of the CD proves to be accurate, as Satriani and company rock their way through 22 high-energy tracks in front of a rabid pack of French fans.
All of Satriani’s signature tunes are here, including “Flying In A Blue Dream,” “Ice 9” and a lengthy take on “Summer Song.” What makes these versions different is the band’s obvious joy in returning to improvisation. Where past concert recordings may have adhered more to the note-for-note concept, “Live In Paris” revels in experimentation and no-holds-barred jamming. With 13 solo albums in the can, Satriani returns to the stage at the peak of his immense talents and delivers a guitarist’s wet dream with looser arrangements of “Surfing With The Alien” and the simply beautiful “Always With Me, Always With You.”
What distances “Satch” from other players is his ability not to overcomplicate things and still rely on a monster beat and memorable hooks. “One Big Rush” or “Ghosts” could fit easily into any FM radio format, but perhaps the guitarhead thing keeps programmers from taking the chance on Satriani’s accessible compositions. Sure, the guy can shred with the best of them and deliver a million notes in one sonic blast, but as a 15-time Grammy nominee and teacher to some of the most respected names in rock guitar circles (Steve Vai, Tom Morello, Kirk Hammett), Satriani is in a league of his own, and “Live In Paris” provides all the proof anyone could need.
And then there’s bassist Stu Hamm, drummer Jeff Campitelli and rhythm guitarist Galen Henson, who have the unenviable job of keeping up with Satriani on knuckle-busting songs like “Satch Boogie” and “Mystical Potato Head, Groove Thing.” Enough can’t be said about this cast of support players, superb musicians all.
“Live In Paris: I Just Wanna Rock” is also available on a special effects-laden DVD which provides the added pleasure of watching Satriani race up and down the neck of his guitar at a seemingly impossible speed as a multitude of colors and images fly by.
Rating: W W W W
