Mona Lisa Vito: [Vinny looks at her funny] What? Vinny Gambini: Nothing. You stick out like a sore thumb around here. Mona Lisa Vito: Me? What about you? Vinny Gambini: I fit in better than you. At least I'm wearing cowboy boots. Mona Lisa Vito: Oh yeah, you blend.
- My Cousin Vinny (1992)
That is exactly how I felt listening to Vinnie Moore’s new release Aerial Visions. This shredder is good, idiosyncratic, one hell of an axe murderer. . . . and he is playing the world. Through the middle of November he’s playing gigs with UFO in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain and England before heading out with UFO and Judas Priest to Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic and Belgium and finally on December 17, a final show in Germany for 2015. Don’t “fret” [musical pun intended] if you are North American, Moore will be touring the U.S. with Uli Jon Roth in January and February 2016!
Obviously a guitarist working that damn hard has to be good - exceptional - masterful. He is and you can hear it on Aerial Visions. From the first strains of Mustang Shuffle I knew this would be extraordinary. A veritable Eric Johnson, Ritchie Blackmore hybrid rubbed in dirt resounded at the first drop beat of the drums.
All instrumental, the album is Vinnie Moore. A tinge progressive metal, well processed, and unbelievably fluid. Did you say fast? Listen to parts of track 2, Now’s The Time. No wonder established bands want more Moore. I bet the middle-eastern strains of Faith attracted Uli Jon Roth. The driving beat and insane neck strangling on Slam no doubt beckons every dancer within a 100 mile radius.
There’s an instrumental cover of ZZ Top’s “La Grange” that is out of this world. It is on permanent repeat in my sports car. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he plays Tex Mex and it is ghost pepper hot. Not your style? Try the romantic instrumental power ballad Looking Back. Then you get to Aerial Vision, an upbeat flurry of notes and Vinnie is off on a run. Only he knows when he is coming back.
Santana is a damn great guitarist and Vinnie somehow combines the feeling of Santana’s Europa with a segue into Guthrie Govan & the Aristocrats-like progressive explosions with The Dark Dream. Seeking more melodic music, upbeat and inspirational with a tinge of the blues? Try on Calling Out. Oh, and before you go add a little classical acoustic guitar then cover it with soaring sustain-laden electric ax and Moore soars for one last time.
Vinnie, Vinnie, Vinnie. Whether you are solo, touring with Alice Cooper, opening for Rush, doing Europe with UFO and Judas Priest, playing with Peter Frampton or traveling the U.S. with Uli Jon Roth, you truly are the Dean on the Dean.
- Old School
