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Greg Prato
Pop ’N Hiss: Robin Trower’s Bridge of Sighs
Sophomore Success
High on any list of ’70s guitar-rock albums is Robin Trower’s six-string masterpiece, Bridge of Sighs. 2024 marks 50 years since its arrival. Rising to prominence as a member of Procol Harum (though he did not play on “Whiter Shade of Pale”), by 1973, the British guitarist was directing a trio with singer/bassist James Dewar…
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Greg Prato
Sue Foley
Femme Flamenco
In a time when pop-music performers rely heavily on post-recording fix-ups and pre-recorded tracks onstage, it’s refreshing – even admirable – when someone takes the “honest road.” Singer/guitarist Sue Foley is one of the few. While the Austin-by-way-of-Ottawa guitarist is known primarily as a blues artist, she’s also a skilled classical/flamenco player, as heard throughout…
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Greg Prato
Robin Trower
Bridge of Skies
At age 78, Robin Trower remains at the top of his game, musically – still offering smoldering solos from his Strat on his latest offering, Joyful Sky. Featuring vocalist Sari Schorr, the combination of Schorr and Trower is a winner, evidenced by tracks like “The Distance” and “Peace of Mind.” Trower spoke with Vintage Guitar…
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Greg Prato
Steven Wilson
Guitar Harmony
Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson isn’t a guitar hero, but his playing fits his compositions perfectly – as exemplified by his latest solo offering, The Harmony Codex. Showing once again that Wilson refuses to be confined to a single style, he exhibits elements of prog, electronic, folk, and rock. We talked with him about how he…
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Greg Prato
Trevor Rabin
Return with Rio
It’s hard to believe that 34 years have passed since Trevor Rabin issued a solo album featuring his vocals. But it’s true – Can’t Look Away was released in 1989. His new album, Rio, is stylistically similar to his ’80s/’90s work with Yes, and finds the South African multi-tasking, instrumentally, while handling most of the…
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Greg Prato
Duane Betts
Father to Son
It’s understandable if you detect a certain Southern-rock flare in the music of singer/guitarist Duane Betts. After all, his father is longtime Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts and he shares a name with the legendary Duane Allman. On his first solo album, Wild & Precious Life, the 45-year-old pays tribute to his musical roots while…
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Greg Prato
Nuno Bettencourt
Extreme Versatility
When Extreme reunited for its fifth album, 2008’s Saudades de Rock, it seemed a foregone conclusion the band was back in business and returning to a regular record/tour cycle. Well, not exactly. Though there was a smattering of live performances in the ensuing years, album number six remained elusive. Until now. The appropriately titled Six…
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Greg Prato
Joe Louis Walker
All-Original Blues
A member of the Blues Hall of Fame, Joe Louis Walker’s music always has unmistakable blues elements. His latest album, Weight of the World, also brings vintage soul, funk, jazz, and even symphonic sounds inspired by a challenge from producer Eric Corne. What spurred your approach to making Weight of the World? Eric approached me…
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Greg Prato
Chris Duarte
Not Mowin’ the Lawn
It’s been seven years since Texas blues rocker Chris Duarte issued a new album, but his 15th studio effort, Ain’t Giving Up, sees the singer/guitarist/songwriter reuniting with producer Dennis Herring, who worked with him on 1994’s Texas Sugar/Strat Magik. The results are refreshingly quirky at times, with Duarte refusing to stick with the expected blues…
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Greg Prato
Mick Box
Deep Heep
It’s hard to believe, but there is only one member still with us from the classic early-’70s Uriah Heep lineup that gave us classic albums like Demons and Wizards, The Magician’s Birthday, and Uriah Heep Live. Yet, the U.K. band manages to retain its unmistakable (at one time, trailblazing) merger of prog and metal, as…
