Neil Zaza: Guitars
Steve Smith: Drums
Ross Valory: Bass
Timothy M. Bradford: Keyboards
Additional Musicians:
Stu Hamm: Bass on “Rain”, “Purple Rain”
Robin DiMaggio: Drums on “Rain”, “Purple Rain”
Michael Lee Firkins: Guitar on “Baking @ 350 degrees”, “Fargo”

I have to admit, I listened to this album with some prejudice. When I received it, I thought, oh no, not another guitar god with an instrumental album that I’ll put on the heap and never listen to again. But how different it turned out to be. Well, I was right about a few things, it’s an instrumental album and I’ll put it on a heap, but it will be the heap of my better albums. And I’ll definitely listen to it again.

This guy is not only a guitar god, he also writes very strong, very melodic songs with a variation to keep you interested for the whole album. I don’t miss the vocals for a moment. To make it even better, he’s joined by some great musicians. The rhythm section is formed by Steve Smith and Ross Valory, who both played in Journey and Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani) also plays bass on 2 songs.

‘I Spy’ is a groovy rock track with a funky feeling. ‘Lift” is a great semi-ballad with a very catchy guitar melody. “Lost In Your Dream” is one of the best guitar ballads I’ve ever heard. An Eastern feeling pops up in ‘Zen, Karma, And Other Good Things’. ‘The Wonder Of You’ is a ballad with a blues touch, with a very strong chorus. The guitar with its ‘singy’ sound certainly is a good vocal placebo. You’ll need your mathematics to understand the rhythm in ‘New, New Math’, a heavier and more complex short track. ‘Rain’ and ‘Every Thought’ are ballads full of emotion. ‘Baking@350°F’ is a very short track in which Neil demonstrates you can play a tune with only a guitar. ‘Fargo’ sounds like an anthem. If heaven needed an anthem, this could be the tune. Some great piano playing by Timothy Bradford starts off ‘Angel’, another ballad, with some fine symphonic pieces. ‘Definition’ is once more a superb semi-ballad, with some very skilful guitar playing. “Purple Rain” is the only track which is superfluous. Nobody’s waiting for a cover of this Prince song. Although very well played, it’s impossible to exceed or equal the original.

This is no progressive rock album, but if you like guitar virtuosi, you’re in for a treat. This album is a fine example to prove that a brilliant guitar player doesn’t have to show off to sound perfect.