Tasty stuff from Eric Johnson, once again off Merry Axemas (can you tell I like these 2 albums?). Incidentally, Eric is one of many amazing players who will be on the Experience Hendrix tour in March.
Posts Tagged ‘merry axemas’
Guitar Christmas: The First Nowell by Eric Johnson
Guitar Christmas: Rudolph by Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Quick post today, lots of family events and Christmas preparations going on. Today’s song by Kenny Wayne Shepherd is another one from the 1997 release Merry Axemas (re-issued in 2005). Enjoy!
I’m counting down to Christmas with some holiday favs by my favorite pickers. Here are the rest. Got something I haven’t covered? Let me know.
Guitar Christmas: The Christmas Song by Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather’s (on Twitter @stevelukather) arrangement of the classic Christmas Song (aka “Chestnuts” – from 2005′s Merry Axemas, Volume 2) *note: it was originally released in 1998 and re-released in 2005* is so incredibly creative & unusual that I never get tired of listening to it. Of course, part of that is Steve’s fluid leads. I also love the tension of the double-time chorus & how it resolves with a big landing back into the verse feel. A beautiful arrangement, beautifully played.
Steve, founding member of Toto and legendary session guitarist has his own band these days and is touring on his latest album, Ever Changing Times, which features his son Trev on guitar.
Steve released a Christmas album in 2008 called Santa Mental, which will get featured here in the coming weeks. On that album, he plays an acoustic version of “Chestnuts:”
Guitar Christmas: O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Neal Schon
Neal Schon’s arrangement of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is from 2005′s Merry Axemas, Volume 2. *note: it was originally released in 1998 and re-released in 2005*
In general, this is one of my favorite Christmas tunes, and I think it’s at least partly because of the minor key (unusual for a Christmas tune) and haunting melody, which appropriately add a sense of desperation to the subject. This song is not a happy Christmas carol, but an intense prayer, and I think Neal’s arrangement captures exactly that. His Jeff Beck-style phrasing on the melody is a thing of beauty, so soulfully played with dynamics, bends & vibrato. The build-up to the end is also a stunning piece of work. I was listening to this yesterday in the car with my son and after it finished, he said, “Wow, that guitar playing was really good Dad.” Yes! This arrangement is pure perfection!
Guitar Christmas: Jingle Bells (instrumental) by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
For fun, I’ll be counting down the days to Christmas with some of my holiday favorites by some of my favorite pickers. First up is this classic by BSO. Many know his arrangement with vocals, but this is the instrumental version which appeared on the 2005 release Merry Axemas (an amazing album if you haven’t checked it out–I’ll be featuring more from it here over the next few weeks). *note: it was originally released in 1997 and re-released in 2005* This has it all. Rockabilly swing, big stabbin horns, thumpin bass, and of course the guitar work is nothing short of masterful.
I’ve taken to ushering in my holiday season with this one. Enjoy!