COAST TO COAST

Say what you waqnt about Steve Morse and his band, but you can't say they aren't consistent. Every album is comprised of uncompromising top notch country jazz rock fusion with a bit of baroque classical sprinkled on top. And this album is ne exception. While I do miss the extra layers the keyboards and violin gave to The Dixie Dregs music, the trio format does give Morse a little more room to stretch out his guitar chops. And he comes out blazing.

Both User Friendly starts the album at high speed, and then Collateral Damage manages to push it up a notch. And don't forget the obligatory burning fast bluegrass tune. Here, that role is taken by Runaway Train, where Morse shows he's as good as any country picker.

Although I have been known to razz on Dave LaRue for being somewhat generic sounding on bass (I miss Andy West, and the added flourished he provided to Dregs music), he is certainly extremely talented. Morse has written some just impossible bass lines, and LaRue manages to keep up.

Nice, like any Morse album.