Year: 2007
Record Label: Eagle Rock
Style: Progressive
Review: Perennial poll winner, guitarist Steve Morse is captured with his trio on German TV during this 1990 performance. At this time, “The Dixie Dregs,” were taking a siesta, as Morse subsequently recorded several solo albums with drummer Van Romaine and bassist Dave LaRue.
Morse is genial and tries his hand at German on occasion when gesturing to the seemingly, SRO audience. His brilliant technical acumen and distinct compositional style shines in glistening aplomb throughout. The guitarist’s slick picking maneuvers are often spiced-up with ringing upper register cadenzas, interspersed with dreamy chord voicings and punishing progressive-rock style motifs. Bassist Dave LaRue slaps his bass into submission while drummer Van Romaine adds some oomph and sting to these variegated works. Morse also uses his whammy bar to great effect, while engaging LaRue in numerous give and take exercises. More importantly, the leader doesn’t sacrifice comps and themes for the sake of guitar heroics. But his ricochet like single note runs keep the audience in awe, as the trio pursues sinewy time signatures to offset a few boogie-rock vamps. Bonus footage includes 17 minutes of Morse and his Dregs band-mates; bassist Jerry Peek and drumming god Rod Morgenstein tearing it up with ominous intentions during a live gig that appears to have been shot in the ‘80s. Nonetheless, Morse’s legion of admirers should revel with the release of this high-impact concert footage.
Running Time: 74 minutes approx.
Record Label Website: http://www.eaglerockent.com
Reviewed by:
Glenn Astarita
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