Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release (June 23, 2015), Vortex , from Neal Schon and it's quite good! Opening with Miles Beyond it is immediately recognized that you are listening to something different. With it's heavy bottom, almost like a giant strolling, it has unusual time signatures mixed in with middle eastern sounds and maybe even traces of Led Zep, but what it is all about is clean instrumental guitar work joined by Steve Smith on drums and Jan Hammer on keys. Very nice! Awakening immediately puts you into the feel of the Mahavishnu Orchestra with its excellent sense of rhythm and timing. Schon is certainly not copying McLaughlin here with totally different lead guitar style but essential and fluid just the same. Excellent! Cuban Fly Zone is a much more evenly paced track with vocal like jazz guitar leads and Hammer creating nice tension on keys. Schon is certainly equipped to fill a frame with notes but restrains himself for the most part creating melodic quick runs...

Billboard Premieres Lead Track "El Matador" from Double Disc All-Instrumental Album Featuring Legendary Guitarist Schon With Keyboardists Jan Hammer And Igor Len, Alongside Journey's Steve Smith To Stream Click Here: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6546329/neal-schon-el-matador-track-the-vortex-album-exclusive-premiere New York, NY --- Mascot Label Group's Music Theories Recordings and Neal Schon have announced the release of Vortex on June 23.  The 2-CD all-instrumental album utilizes rock as its foundation, while also embracing elements of jazz, classical and world music in an 18-track stunning, sonically explosive collection of original compositions.  The release is dedicated to Schon's best friend and wife, who serves as his true inspiration every day (Both "Lady M" and "Triumph of Love" were written for her, the latter of which he performed at their wedding on December 15, 2013).  Schon shares, "...