Speed of Heat

Description

Youve heard his extraordinary and captivating guitar playing thousands of times on groundbreaking, multi-platinum albums by Steely Dan (a band he cofounded) and the Doobie Brothers (with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and on countless smash hit songs and albums hes participated in as an in-demand, first-call studio musician. But the one place you havent heard the exceptional and versatile talents of guitarist Jeff Skunk Baxter one of the most-recorded guitarists of his generation, whose work has run the gamut from rock to pop to country to R&B and everything in-between is on an album where he gets the opportunity to focus on the personalon a record all his own.

Thats all changed with the release of Baxters masterful solo LP, Speed of Heat. But first, the inevitable question: What took him so long? He says, Well, that is a good question. I dont mean to sound disingenuous, but it seems to me that the moment somebody leaves a successful band, the first thing they do is record a solo album. As for myself, I thought I would consider that down the road, because I hadnt had much time to really think about it, being immersed in so much studio work and record production, so I kept saying, Ill do it someday.’ Then adds, OK, so I had a lot of time to think about it.

For music fans of all stripes, and particularly those who have followed Baxters remarkable career through the years, Speed of Heat will prove well worth the wait. The 12-song album is a riveting and rewarding musical experience that features a host of amazing originals co-written by the guitarist and his keyboardist/producing partner, CJ Vanston, as well as inspired versions of some of the great classics. Along the way, Baxter is joined by special guests such as Michael McDonald, Clint Black, Jonny Lang and Rick Livingstone, each of whom adds their own unique and remarkable musical talents to the projects brilliant sonic mosaic.