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Steve Vai
Steven Siro Vai (born 6th June, 1960 in Carle Place, New York) is a Grammy Award winning guitarist, composer and record producer. When growing up, the young Vai became interested in rock giants such as Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Alice Cooper (Glen Buxton) and Jimmy Page leading him to take up the guitar. Prior to attending Berklee College of Music, Steve frequently jammed with his teacher Joe Satriani and played in numerous local bands. He has acknowledged the influence of many guitarists, including Jeff Beck, fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth and, of course, Zappa. Steve's career was launched by his fascination with Zappa's music. A persistent rumour at Berklee tells how Steve would skip classes, spending time in the school's library transcribing Zappa's works by ear. Steve mailed transcriptions of Zappa's guitar solos to him, and after meeting Vai for the first time Zappa was so impressed with the abilities of the young musician, he hired him to transcribe his seemingly endless array of experimental symphonic rock. In these formative stages of his career, Vai's talent was showcased on such songs as "Moggio" and "Stevie's Spanking". While employed by Zappa, Vai would at times tour with Zappa's band and engage in a friendly competition with the audience, wherein audience members could bring in musical scores and see if Vai could sight-read them on the spot; Steve Vai is also known to have perfect pitch. Zappa referred to Steve as his "little Italian virtuoso"; he was listed in liner notes as "stunt guitarist". Steve's transcription skills can be seen in 'The Frank Zappa Guitar Book', a collection of transcribed solos released in 1983. After leaving Zappa in 1982 he moved to California where he recorded his first album "Flex-Able" and performed in a couple of bands. In 1984 he replaced Yngwie Malmsteen as lead guitarist in Alcatrazz with whom he recorded the album "Disturbing the Peace". Later in 1985 Vai joined former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth's newly assembled group (which also featured acclaimed bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Gregg Bissonette) to record the multi-platinum albums "Eat'em And Smile" and "Skyscraper". These albums, along with their accompanying videos and arena tours, significantly enhanced Vai's reputation and popularity. At the time, Roth engaged in a war of words with the members of Van Halen; many commentators favorably compared Vai's guitar-playing to Eddie Van Halen's. Following 1988's popular Skyscraper Tour, Vai left David Lee Roth's band.
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Bass Legend Jeff Berlin To Release 30th Anniversary Edition 12-inch Vinyl Joe Frazier - Round 3 Feat. Steve Vai & David Sancious
Source:
Glass Onyon PR - William James
Legendary bassist Jeff Berlin will be releasing on May 11th a 30th Anniversary Edition 12-inch vinyl of his signature song “Joe Frazier.” The EP “Joe Frazier- Round 3" will include a newly remastered version of the original song from his critically acclaimed 1987 album Pump It! and a completely re-imagined version, composed and performed by Jeff, Steve Vai (lead guitar), David Sancious (keys), Keith Carlock (drums) and Tom Hemby (rhythm guitar). This limited-edition EP will be available as signed audiophile ...
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Bass Virtuoso Brad Russell Debut CD 'Let's Hear It” Featuring Guitar Legend Joe Satriani Now Available On Steve Vai's Digital Nations Label
Source:
Glass Onyon PR - William James
New York, NY - Much to the excitement of bass players around the world, bass guitar virtuoso Brad Russell has released his debut solo album 'Let's Hear It!' on Steve Vai's Digital Nations label. Featuring guitar legend Joe Satriani, 'Let's Hear It!' explores musical frontiers where no bassist has gone before! Brad is a true bass hero and his debut CD is a solid sampling of creative cutting edge “lead” rock bass playing. Russell taps, slaps and shreds his four-string ...
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Steve Vai Attempts to Break Record for World's Largest Online Guitar Lesson
Source:
Chris M. Slawecki
Berkleemusic, the online continuing education division of Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music, along with Grammy®-award winning guitar virtuoso Steve Vai, today announced a call to action for guitarists around the world to join forces and set the Guinness® World Record for the largest online guitar lesson on March 3rd, 2011. This first-of-its-kind initiative will bring together the worldwide community of guitarists in an unprecedented online celebration of music education. Vai, who is currently recording a new album and preparing ...
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Former Zappa Alumnus Bob Harris CD Reissue Featuring Guitar Legend Steve Vai Now Available
Source:
Glass Onyon PR - William James
New York, NY - The Great Nostalgia, the 1986 solo record by Frank Zappa's 1980 band vocalist/keyboardist Bob Harris, has just received its CD debut on Crossfire Publications. Originally self-released on Harris' Mastahna label, The Great Nostalgia has been expanded by six bonus tracks and has been remastered and/or remixed from the original session tapes. The 1980 Zappa lineup with Bob Harris also included guitarists Steve Vai, Ray White and Ike Willis, keyboardist Tommy Mars, bassist Arthur Barrow and drummer ...
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Crossfire Releases Zappa Veteran Bob Harris' the Great Nostalgia with Guests Steve Vai, Thana Harris, Tommy Mars and Stuart Hamm
Source:
Glass Onyon PR - William James
New York - Bob Harris, keyboardist/vocalist of the 1980 Frank Zappa band with guitarists Steve Vai, Ray White and Ike Willis, keyboardist Tommy Mars, bassist Arthur Barrow and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, will soon have his 1986 album The Great Nostalgia released in an expanded format by Crossfire Publications. The Great Nostalgia, originally a self-financed release on his Mastahna label, has been remastered (and in some cases remixed) from the original session tapes.
More than twenty-one years after its first release, ...
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Steve Vai's Favored Nations To Launch Favored Nations Cool, A New Jazz Imprint
Source:
All About Jazz
LARRY CORYELL, NOVECENTO featuring STANLEY JORDAN Signed
Guitarist Mimi Fox' She's The Woman Is Initial Release, March 23
Los Angeles, CA - Favored Nations, the label started by legendary guitarist Steve Vai, will launch a new sub-label dedicated to jazz artists, Favored Nations Cool.
At press time it was announced that guitarist Larry Coryell, and Novecento featuring Stanley Jordan had signed with the label.
“The idea to eventually grow and branch out into other genres has always been our intention ...
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