Strange Beautiful Music http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Music/Strange-Beautiful-Music-Joe-Satriani/0696998629424

Artist: Joe Satriani

• Personnel includes: Joe Satriani (acoustic & electric guitar, banjo, keyboards, bass); Robert Fripp (electric guitar); Pia Vai (harp); Eric Caudieux (keyboards); Matt Bissonette (bass); Jeff Campitelli, Greg Bissonette (drums); John Cunibert (percussion).
  
• Recorded at The Plant, Sausalito, California.
  
• "Starry Night" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
  
• Personnel: Joe Satriani (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, autoharp, sitar, keyboards); Robert Fripp (electric guitar); Pia Vai (harp); Eric Caudieux (keyboards, computer); Jeff Campitelli (drums, percussion); Gregg Bissonette (drums); John Cuniberti (percussion).
  
• Audio Mixers: Leff Lefferts; Joe Satriani; John Cuniberti.
  
• Recording information: Studio 21; The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA.
  
• Photographers: Eric Caudieux; Jay Blakesberg.
  
• For his first album since dabbling with electronica on 2000's ENGINES OF CREATION, Joe Satriani returns to the bread-and-butter of straight-forward instrumental virtuosity with a few exotic nuances sprinkled throughout like musical parmesan cheese. Heavy synths and delays give "Oriental Melody" a sinister glint while fat guitar tones mix with Middle Eastern-flavored chord progressions on the intriguing "Belly Dancer." Fans put off by Satch's recent experimentation will have further reason to rejoice over the return of this prodigal son once they hear the thundering riffage of "Mind Storm," hook-filled "New Last Jam" and sassy snap of "Hill Groove." Elsewhere, the Long Island native distinguishes himself from the calculated playing associated with practitioners of this genre that he spawned on two cuts--the acoustic-guitar laced "You Saved My Life" and equally moving "Starry Night." The one non-original is a gorgeous cover of the Santo and Johnny '50s hit "Sleep Walk" featuring a cameo by Robert Fripp, a guitar god in his own right. STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC is a welcome return from one of music's more maddeningly gifted participants.