Joe Satriani G3 Live: Rockin' In The Free World CD

Recorded live at The Uptown Theatre, Kansas City, Missouri on October 21, 2003.

Eight years after its maiden jaunt, the G3 concert series continues to celebrate six-string excess for guitar geeks across the globe. The brainchild of legend Joe Satriani, G3 showcases Satch, his accomplished former student Steve Vai, and a wildcard support act. While the series has featured axe-slingers of a bluesier sort, the 2003 tour found the neo-classical king Yngwie Malmsteen joining the fretboard fray.

ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD offers an encapsulation of the tour's highlights. Setting off the disc, Satriani and his band offer an inspiring, and, at times, subdued set. Steve Vai is aptly backed by a supergroup of sorts, featuring his power twin from the David Lee Roth band, bassist Billy Sheehan, and formidable guitarist/keyboardist Tony MacAlpine. Rounding out the string-shredding trio of acts, Yngwie displays a command of the electric guitar that remains fearsome. The requisite G3 jam unites the three guitarists in homage to Jimi Hendrix ("Voodoo Child [Slight Return]," "Little Wing") and an amped-up working of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World." Not for the faint of heart, G3 is cause for rejoicing among the massive cult of instrumental-rock guitar buffs.

/Steve Vai/Yngwie Malmsteen.

Personnel: Joe Satriani (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen (vocals, guitar); Tony MacAlpine (guitar, keyboards); Dave Weiner (guitar); Jocke Svalberg (keyboards); Matt Bissonette, Billy Sheehan (bass); Jeff Campitelli, Jeremy Colson, Patrick Johannson (drums).

Producers: Joe Satriani, Steve vai, Yngwie Malmsteen.

Personnel: Joe Satriani (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen (vocals, guitar); Garry Henson, Matt Bissonette (vocals); Tony MacAlpine (guitar, keyboards); Patrick Johannson, Jeff Campitelli, Jeremy Colson (drums).

Audio Mixers: Doug Nightwine; Mike Fraser.

Recording information: The Uptown Theater, Kansas City, MO (10/21/2003).

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.