STEVE HOWE TRIO: THE HAUNTED MELODY

Steve Howe is one of my guitar heroes, since I watched the Yessongs movie in 1976 and witnessed the Going For The One tour in 1977 (with his 'guitar museum' on stage). It is such a virtuosic but also versatile guitarist: he easily switches from jazzy scale acrobatics on his many Gibsons electric guitars to tender runs on the classical Spanish - and acoustic Portuguese 12-string guitar or exciting work on the Fender twin steel guitar, awesome!

One of the many side projects from Steve Howe is this trio, founded in 2007. Then The Steve Howe Trio went on tour in order to promote their album The Haunted Melody (released in 2008). The trio features his son Dylan on drums, and the outstanding Hammond organ player Ross Stanley: he started to play piano when he was four and as a teenager he was awarded an organ scholarschip, later he turned into a Hammond specialist and played with Deodato, Trevor Horn and Simply Red.

On this CD the Hammond organ is omnipresent, I am blown away by Ross his work on this distinctive and powerful keyboard. The interplay with Howe is awesome, backed by Dylan his dynamic drumming.

Interesting are the renditions of the three Yes compositions. First Mood For A Day, hardly recognizable with the strong jazzy overtones, but it sounds very tasteful. Then Siberian Khatru, also drenched into a jazz sound and featuring a compelling Hammond solo and a strongly build up guitar solo. And finally a very abridged version of the epic Close To The Edge (around 5 minutes), Ross and Howe deliver great work.

Other strong moments on this album.

The titletrack : wonderful and fragile bluesy play by Howe and a swirling Hammond solo.

Kenny's Sound : a dynamic hommage to Kenny Burrell.

Blue Bash : a splendid tribute to the legendary Hammond player Jimmy Smith, with awesome work on the Hammond and guitar.

And the acoustic, pretty playful Laughing With Larry.

I am sure this first album by The Steve Howe Trio will please the Steve Howe guitar fans, but also the Hammond aficionados, impressive! And if you want more, in 2010 The Steve Howe Trio released the live CD entitled Travelling.